People save people
It’s going to take some time, time for people to realise that rules alone don’t save lives.
The new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 is gradually being adapted into those businesses who seriously care about their workers, and the families who want their family home safely. So why do we still hear of preventable injuries and deaths in workplaces? Surely this new legislation was going to change all that?
A recent article in the New Zealand Herald says that the Labour party declares the new workplace rules fail to stop deaths. A focus on the statistics seems to be the basis for this statement yet Workplace Relations say the trend is moving downwards and there is growing improvement in attitudes around health and safety at work; we are seeing this every day.
The thing to remember is that simply having a Health and Safety Management System and government legislation, won’t be enough if the culture in your organisation doesn’t ‘get’ why it’s needed. Your workers won’t feel safe just because there are rules, but rather, when everyone has the right attitude and has their back.
One of our clients talked to us recently about the importance of not only getting it but also getting it right. This company has various locations and they take their Trial Fire Evacuations very seriously. They actively take this opportunity to bring out their defibrillators and first aid kits as practice. Whilst this is just a trial they know that if it was a real emergency situation they could possibly need them for co-workers or clients. The point is that they care enormously about their whole business which includes all people on their sites and in showrooms.
The legislation guides them but they have embraced the health and safety of all their people as part of who they are. The best service with the best care, and this company continues to grow because of their attitude and culture. Got to be something in that.
Read the NZ Herald article here…
If you need some help on the culture in your organisation contact us on 0800 023 789 or email info@allaboutpeople.co.nz
Nikki Davidson, All About People Business Development – Online Marketing