Ensuring continuity in operations and becoming more and more aware about the triple bottom line of planet, people, and profit, businesses and organizations are now urged, if not required, to review and refine sustainability practices they have in place, especially now that the world is going through a global pandemic. In our previous posts, we have defined sustainability and provided 10 benefits of investing in sustainability practices for companies. In this article, we will explore the role of workplace health and safety in contributing to sustainability.
Whether you are part of a small business or a leader of a big organization, occupational safety and health is an issue which should not be taken lightly and should be part of the company’s risk management efforts. It encompasses physical, mental, social, and environmental factors that contribute to both company and workforce welfare. According to a report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) last 2019, about “2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases […] and an additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents”. Aside from these, there is also a growing concern for “psychosocial risks, work-related stress and non-communicable diseases” among workers globally. Several studies have also been published showing that there are both economic and intangible costs connected to these workplace issues and hazards; and these costs contribute to a business’ sustainability.
Having workforce wellbeing programs in place and adhering to Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) regulations will not only mitigate risks associated with health and safety issues in the workplace and the community-at-large, but will also help companies comply with laws and regulations already existing in this area. Together with the movement towards sustainability reforms, it is beneficial for an organization to incorporate and integrate EHS and Sustainability plans to help boost both their revenue and impact on society and environment.
Below are five ways to encourage organizations to integrate and implement workplace health, safety and sustainability plans into the company’s business strategy:
1. Safety improves productivity.
When workers are healthy and safe, it is most probable that they will be showing up for work thus boosting workplace productivity. According to SafetyWorks!, the outreach program of the Maine Department of Labor, a “safe and healthy workplace not only protects workers from injury and illness, it can also lower injury/illness costs, reduce absenteeism and turnover, increase productivity and quality, and raise employee morale”. As it is evident, taking care of people contributes to a company’s performance. Sustainability not only pertains to environmental factors, but also encompasses the human element in operations.
2. A good EHS and Sustainability program always starts with good planning.
Ever heard the quote “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” popularized by Benjamin Franklin? This basically sums up this point. From performing rigorous environment, economic, and social risk assessments, creating efficient and safe workspace layouts mindfully, to designing processes that produce minimal to zero waste, investing time in planning to prevent and mitigate risks and even hiring experts and professionals like EHS Officers or Health and Safety Managers to do the work will ensure safety and sustainability in the workplace and save company resources in the long-run.
3. Establish key metrics to measure impact of EHS and Sustainability policies.
A business can only manage items that it can measure. If businesses are serious about implementing EHS and Sustainability policies, key metrics should be determined to track any progress from the implementation of programs. Metrics can also be a source of feedback for areas that will need more improvement or when key business decisions should be made. This report published by The National Association for Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Management (NAEM) can help jumpstart the discussion about metrics and programs companies can adopt to their strategies.
4. Employ or appoint EHS and Sustainability Officers in the workplace.
EHS Officers are experts tasked to actively champion and perform safety- and sustainability- related activities. They are aware of different local and national EHS policies and make sure that their companies are compliant by reinforcing such in the workplace and conducting audits and investigations should issues and accidents arise. They also conduct trainings to employees and other stakeholders and raise awareness on topics related to health, safety, and environmental sustainability and how these can impact them and the business.
5. Include a program where employees are included in the design or problem-solving process should workplace health and safety issues arise.
There is no better source of information for soliciting feedback and ideas than from the employees and workers themselves. Definitely, the decision-making will still be under the management’s role, but gathering feedback through Safety Surveys or Voice of the Employees Program can provide a more realistic picture on what is happening on the ground. Employee engagement can be brought up a notch higher by including them in the problem-solving process. This co-designing and co-creating process between management and employees can provide a sense of collaboration and accountability among all. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration even emphasized that worker participation is vital to the success of safety and health programs and gave recommendations on how to involve employees in the process.
Integrating EHS and Sustainability plans and aligning them with the business core strategy will translate to a continuity in operations, as issues and concerns about workplace environment, productivity, and process efficiency are addressed. Looking at the bigger picture, having this integration and alignment can also help businesses contribute to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. EHS policies can be effective on its own. But, putting it together with Sustainability policies will create a lasting impact for a business in contributing to the people and the planet, while gaining sustainable profit.
Envirotech Education is an Australian Registered Training organization (RTO) registered by the Australian Skill Quality Authority (ASQA) and produces graduates knowledgeable and skilled in designing, developing, and implementing Marine, Environment and Sustainability programs.
