All workers have a legal right to work in an atmosphere where health and safety hazards are effectively handled. It is, therefore, important that you, as an owner, are aware of all the potential effects that poor health and safety can have on your company.
Overall, it is the obligation of the business owner to protect their employees’ health and take all safety precautions seriously. Unfortunately, when poor health and safety are practiced in the workplace, this can not only result in serious consequences like legal repercussions but also seriously damage the reputation of the business.
Continue reading to learn more about the top 5 most common consequences of poor health and safety in your business, including potential legal repercussions, the loss of current or potential employees, reputation damage, and more.
What Are the Top 5 Most Common Consequences of Poor Health and Safety in Your Business?
1. Legal Repercussions
Incidents involving workplace safety can, unfortunately, result in lawsuits, draining resources from the business and further harming its brand.
For example, when health and safety precautions in a workplace are not followed, the company risks getting fined for non-compliance. So, take note, that non-compliance with the law is an expensive endeavour when combined with the requirement to pay both your own and the prosecution’s legal expenses.
It is also important to know that violating health and safety laws can also result in prison time. Therefore, it is not only essential for the well-being and safety of all who work for you, but also in your best interest to follow all health and safety regulations required by your local health and safety regulating body.
2. Loss of Current Or Potential Employees
When health and safety measures are not followed in a workplace, this can not only lead to the loss of current employees but can also deter other unemployed people from accepting positions within your organization. After all, when people do not feel safe, or like they are at risk during work, they are less likely to stay in that position.
Therefore, it is recommended to ensure that your health and safety measures are always followed in order to encourage your current workers to stay. These enhanced safety measures can also draw other potential employees to your business, helping you keep a plethora of staff on hand.
3. Reputation Damage
The safety of your business activities can also have an impact on your business’s overall reputation. Unfortunately, your bottom line may suffer if your reputation is tarnished as a result of poor safety procedures. After all, customers may be less likely to buy products from a business if there are unsafe workplace practices.
It also doesn’t take long for the information to spread that a specific organization is unable to handle its management obligations effectively. This can not only taint how customers view the business but
can also influence suppliers and business partners to view a corporation a certain way, harming sales and commercial ties.
4. A Productivity Decline
Accidents caused by inadequate safety procedures at work can significantly reduce productivity. For example, businesses must either manage the regular workload with fewer employees when workers are absent due to injury or illness or hire new, temporary, or permanent personnel.
5. Increased Chances of Illness and Injury
Serious injuries or fatalities can occur as a result of your failing to put in place sufficient health and safety procedures. Unfortunately, an employee’s quality of life can also be affected by a work-related illness or injury in addition to their temporary inability to work.
Final Thoughts
In general, it is the responsibility of the business owner to safeguard the health of their employees and to take all safety measures seriously. Unfortunately, when inadequate health and safety practices are employed at work, this can have significant negative impacts on the business’s reputation in addition to serious implications.
Overall, some of the most common outcomes for a corporation that practises poor health and safety measures include legal ramifications, the loss of current or potential employees, damage to the organization’s brand, and a drop in employee productivity. Unfortunately, a company with poor health and safety standards also raises the likelihood of employee injury and illness.