Health and safety at work

Health at Work should be a primary concern of not only employees but employers as well. The physical and mental health of an employee has a direct impact on his job. His productivity and efficiency is related to his health. It would be foolish to overlook this connection. Providing for good health conditions would make the employee feel valued, respected and satisfied. But if the conditions are not conducive to good health, it leads to stress, that obviously affects the performance of the employee. In these competitive times, when businesses are facing competition from all possible quarters, it has to necessarily depend on its healthy and productive employees. Mainly there are three inter-related components of workplace health. First, there are the employees, the key resource of any organization. Their health and well being should be of main concern all the times. Next is the environment in which the employees work. It should be necessarily safe and healthy.

Proper risk assessments and policies should be made in this regard. The last component is the Organisational Structure. Management decisions, has a huge effect on the employees’ morale. To create a win-win situation for both the employee and the employer, such a programme must encompass all three.

Many workers are unaware that it is their right to work in an environment where their health safety at work is one of the main responsibilities of the employer. 28th April is observed globally to endorse the cause of safe, healthy, and decent work. This ensures growth of awareness among employers as well as employees.

It is not only the employers’ responsibility to look into the health and safety at work but also the employees’. The workers have to be aware of their rights like breaks during the day, paid leaves and personal safety gears. In case of any lack of safety measures, the employee needs to inform the employer at the soonest.

There is also a health safety at work act – The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom outlines the duties of the employers, workers and the third parties. It also covers the people who controls, manages and maintains the work places, as well as persons in general.

Not only UK, but many countries have their own laws dealing with health & safety at work. The framework may differ but the objective is the same. In many countries, employees, who have suffered any kind of injuries at their workplace or during their work, can file a case against their employers in the civil courts.

Therefore, it is evident, that the employees should not only be aware of their legal options, but also their responsibilities towards the workplace. Measures towards their own safety should not only be the employer’s duty but their as well. Most importantly, they should not forget that health at work is their basic right.

For more information visit these sites:
Health work, well being of Uk
Healthy working lives of Glasgow