Why workplace safety is crucial for employees and employers
The hidden cost of workplace sickness is estimated at over £100 billion, according to a report published last year by IPPR research. It concluded that the cost of staff sickness in the UK jumped by £30 billion in just five years, reaching £103 billion in 2023, compared to £73 billion in 2018. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28th therefore serves as an important reminder of our collective responsibility to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses, addressing the human and financial cost of injuries and ill-health at work.
What is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work?
Established in 2003, the initiative aims to improve workplace health and prevent work-related accidents and illnesses globally. A safe and healthy work environment is essential for productivity and our well-being. A poor work environment can lead to high rates of absenteeism as well as presenteeism, where employees, despite feeling unwell or unfit to work, still come into the workplace, often resulting in reduced productivity and potentially spreading illness.
The human cost of neglecting workplace safety
Neglecting health and safety protocols dramatically elevates the risk of workplace injuries. In 2023/24 alone, UK employers reported 61,663 such incidents (HSE). This leads not only to absence from work; it can also lead to early retirement due to chronic pain, the inability to perform daily tasks, or the development of long-term health conditions like occupational asthma or musculoskeletal disorders. Whilst ethical companies want to keep employees well because ‘it’s the right thing to do’, others with more of a focus on the bottom line will also benefit because every illness costs the company money in one way or another.
The benefits of a strong safety culture at work
Reducing the frequency of injuries and ill-health in the workplace is achievable when businesses put in place a strong safety culture, backed up by a robust set of policies that employees can engage with as well as feeling empowered to contribute to – and to actively uphold. In addition to reduced accidents and injuries, there are many other benefits such as:
- Improved employee morale and engagement.
- Increased productivity and efficiency.
- Enhanced company reputation.
What we can do together to improve workplace safety
Employers have clear responsibilities regarding creating a safe working environment; however, employees need to play their part too. Employees can proactively enhance workplace safety through various measures. For example:
- Understanding and detecting workplace issues:
By identifying, reporting, and preventing potential hazards in the workplace, individual action can protect co-workers and prevent issues occurring. - The importance of training:
Regular and comprehensive training empowers employees to actively contribute to improved workplace safety by equipping them with the skills to understand and detect potential hazards.
Multitone’s solutions for enhancing workplace safety
Multitone is passionate about the importance of workplace safety not only for its own employees, but for those working for other organisations, too. That’s why Multitone offers a range of solutions which protect workers by ensuring the delivery of vital alarm and location information at the press of a button, including EkoTek, EkoSecure and its hybrid messaging platform, i-Message.
Conclusion
So, let us use World Day for Safety and Health at Work to serve as a powerful call to action, urging us all to prioritise workplace well-being and recognise the profound human and economic benefits of proactive safety measures, which Multitone’s innovative solutions actively support.
