Workplace safety and health programs protect your most valuable asset: your employees.

Workplace safety and health programs protect your most valuable asset: your employees.

Establishing a safety and health program in your workplace is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your employees. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost to your businesses as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover, and your business’ reputation.

The main goal of such programs is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers.

The idea is to begin with a basic program and simple goals and grow from there. If a worksite focuses on achieving goals, monitoring performance, and evaluating outcomes, it can progress along the path to higher levels of safety and health achievement.

Employers will find that implementing these recommended practices also brings other benefits:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.

• Improve compliance with laws and regulations.

• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums.

• Engage workers.

• Enhance their social responsibility goals.

• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations.

Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council offers several opportunities to assist worksites, organizations, hospitals, or schools in worksite safety:

• The Fall Panhandle Safety and Wellness Conference on September 22, 2022, at the Gering Civic Center, provides an opportunity to learn more regarding safety and wellness and network with area professionals and experts.

• Presentations are also a great way to provide education around a specific topic, such as seatbelt safety. Education and/or presentations provide a platform for employees to ask questions and feel heard before policies are implemented.

• Council policy templates are a great way to start a worksite policy. These policies provide guidelines and rules around a certain topic, outlining what is allowed by the employer and employee.

Nicole Berosek, Organizational Wellness Coordinator, states, “Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council would love to help your organization customize a safety policy that fits your organization’s unique needs. We can also offer on-site presentations that provide education and/or information to all levels of the organization. Please reach out, we would love to help your worksite, organization, hospital, or school.”

For additional information about worksite wellness, visit the website or call Berosek at 308-279-3496. The Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council is proudly part of Panhandle Public Health District and specializes in supporting employers in the Panhandle region. We recognize that many employers support a diverse and remote workforce and offer innovative ways to overcome the challenge of working with a virtual team. We understand that many of our employers do not have full-time wellness resources and work to provide resources and training to make running a worksite wellness program as easy as possible.

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety and quality of life for all who live, learn, work and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community.

Sources: https://www.osha.gov/safety-management; https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3885.pdf