We live in a world filled with propaganda and deception. The internet was supposed to add transparency to our lives. But it’s become the home of every type of demagoguery you can imagine. Separating fact from fiction is tough, especially when we’re so overloaded with information. But separate fact from fiction, we must.
Today, we’re going to investigate the murky world of workplace injury. The following are some of the biggest myths out there on workplace injury. Do they ring true for you? Let’s find out.
Myth 1: There’s No Such Thing As A Hazard Free Workplace
Many businesses have a cavalier attitude towards workplace safety based on false beliefs. And one such false belief is the idea that a hazard-free workplace is impossible.
This view isn’t entirely benign either. It leads to complacency within companies. And when complacency enters a place of work, it’s only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously hurt.
The problem here seems to be that companies are confusing the idea of hazard with the idea of danger. Danger is something that is unavoidable. But hazards can be identified, and procedures put in place to control them. In fact, hazards can be avoided, so long as businesses follow adequate health and safety procedures.
Myth 2: Being Safe Costs Businesses Money
A lot of businesses are sceptical about creating safe workplaces. Why? Because they think it costs them money. And, superficially, it does. They have to invest in safety equipment, worker training and so on. Avoiding injuries, like hydraulic injury, requires investment.
But, of course, they miss the bigger picture. It’s not just the direct costs of creating a safe workplace that cost money. It’s the indirect costs of not creating a safe workplace too. When workers get injured, it’s expensive. They can sue. They can’t work. They ruin the reputation of your business. It’s just not worth it.
Myth 3: There’s Something Called Fate
Some businesses can get rather superstitious about accidents. They say that accidents just happen, and that’s a part of doing business. What they don’t realise is that accidents only continue to happen because of complacency.
The statistics bear this out. If taking actions to improve safety didn’t work, we’d expect worker injuries to be constant. But what we see instead is steadily falling total injuries as workplaces become safer.
And this gets to the heart of why believing in fate is such a bad idea. After a while, fate simply becomes a self-fulling prophecy. Companies who believe that accidents just happen won’t do anything to stop them. And if they don’t do anything to stop them, then they’ll continue to happen, just as fate predicted.
It’s vital that your business breaks out of this cycle. There are now hundreds of companies that have taken leadership in workplace health and safety. And they’re reaping dividends as a result.
Leaders need to take the case for safety to their boards. They need to demolish the myths about workplace safety that put employees in danger. And they need to lead their companies to create a culture that makes safety as a priority.
