U.S. workers dissatisfied with the state of employers' safety efforts
Around 75% of workers say safety efforts at their companies have not been very effective.
When it comes to workplace safety, 71% of U.S. employees don’t think their organization follows through on its safety promises and 65% think their employer isn’t making an active effort to improve safety training.
That’s according to AlertMedia’s latest State of Employee Safety report, which also found that 84% of employees feel that their organization has the means to help them feel more prepared for an emergency.
Further, many employees said current safety efforts are not very effective. At the same time, almost half of workers said the world is becoming a more dangerous place compared with just a few years ago.
Workers said that improving communications about workplace hazards and emergency protocol is the best way that companies can show that safety is a priority, according to AlertMedia’s study.
“The second most impactful way organizations can show that safety is a priority is to initiate safety improvement plans and be transparent with specific initiatives that are being executed to protect employees in today’s intensifying crisis landscape,” Peter Steinfeld, senior vice president of safety solutions at AlertMedia, says.
He explains that data shows employees have a desire for updated and consistent safety training, streamlined emergency communication, and more regular and open conversation about emergency preparedness.
“Safety and crisis management teams can also form safety committees with employees from all departments and levels of the organization, including leadership, as well as having more people participate in drills and tabletop exercises and provide feedback,” Steinfeld says. “This not only shows that safety is a priority but also increases engagement and buy-in at every level.”
Safety is profitable
Around half of workers surveyed said a major factor when deciding whether to stay with a company is whether the organization shows genuine care for their safety. In addition to improving retention rates, strong safety programs can also improve a company’s bottom line, according to Steinfeld.
“Data shows that the top 10 workplace injuries in 2021 cost U.S. businesses a total of nearly $59 billion,” Steinfeld says. “Not only do businesses with a strong safety record lower costs directly related to worker injuries, but they also tend to get more favorable terms from insurance companies.”
Noting employees’ perceptions of safety are connected with their engagement levels, Steinfeld says companies with highly engaged employees are 21% more profitable than those with low levels of engagement.
“Safety isn’t the only factor, but the data here shows that it’s a great place to start,” he says. “Organizations with a strong safety culture also tend to experience less staff turnover, lower risk for brand and reputational damage, and higher employee satisfaction.”
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