The Importance of Safety Meetings

Safety meetings are essential to the workplace, no matter the industry. Safety meetings keep your employees and customers safe and reduce risk, especially when working around dangerous equipment or chemicals. They also inform and educate about possible risks and the steps to implement to avoid incidents or accidents. Safety meetings are a form of two-way communication between management and workers and give an opportunity for both education and a channel for feedback. This is an audit table element with Certificate of Recognition (COR) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) systems.

So, today, let’s dive into the importance of safety meetings in the workplace. 

Cultivates a safe working environment 

Safety meetings allow management and safety departments to communicate how employees can perform their job safely and efficiently. Whether you are an expert or have limited knowledge on a topic, it is always important to listen carefully as if hearing the information for the first time. Complacency in the workplace is a risk to everyone’s safety and well-being.  

Since the safety industry quickly adapts and evolves, it is imperative to stay current on all aspects of your role. Ultimately, the information discussed in safety meetings prevents accidents or incidents from occurring in the workplace and ensures everyone is equipped with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves and others safe. 

Allows opportunity to communicate 

Safety meetings are critical communications for all employees. Encourage workers to voice and address any safety concerns they might have. It also opens the door to expressing ideas on improvements to increase safety in the workplace. Incidents or accidents result from unsafe acts or conditions.  

According to the National Library of Medicine, “Based on reported studies, approximately 90% of workplace accidents are due to unsafe behaviour and human error.”  

The impact of incidents 

There are many ways in which incidents can directly impact you: 

• Death: this is the ultimate unwanted result. Always take safety seriously and utilize resources. Regularly hold safety meetings to stay informed and educated about best practices and procedures.
• Financial cost: loss or reduction in pay can have a significant impact on you and your loves ones.
• Pain and suffering: dealing with constant pain and discomfort can impact your job, ability to work, as well as your everyday life.
• Disability: an incident or accident that results in a disability is a life-changing experience. You may not be able to do what you used to, which can impact both your professional and personal life.
• Competitiveness on bidding jobs: Workers Compensation Insurance and incident costs may represent the bulk of a company’s operating expense. When operating expenses increase, businesses are less competitive to bid on jobs.
• Safety of coworkers: The people you work directly with can be impacted by your actions, and it is imperative to look out for the safety of others. Employees spend more time with colleagues than family and friends, and likely have a vested interest in co-worker well-being. 

Be sure to take advantage of safety meetings and embrace continuous learning and growth. Express your ideas and thoughts about safety procedures, address concerns, ask questions, and be an active participant in these important discussions. As a business leader, plan and execute regular safety meetings to ensure you are keeping safety at the forefront of your business.