Understanding the Importance of HR Health and Safety Support Services

In today’s business world, health and safety have become critical priorities for companies of all sizes. Ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is a legal and moral obligation that can secure a company’s reputation and be a vital contributor to its success. And that’s where outsourced HR comes into play. HR health and safety support services can help businesses create comprehensive health and safety policies and training programmes to ensure the well-being of employees. It is important to have a robust HR health and safety programme in place to minimise workplace accidents and preventable illnesses. HR and management teams can help promote health and well-being theories that directly impact the state of mental health. In this blog post, we will explore how HR plays an important role in ensuring health and safety in the workplace.

Creating a Safe Work Environment

One of the primary roles of HR health and safety support services is to create a safe working environment. HR professionals work closely with management teams to establish policies and practices that help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. For instance, HR can provide support in conducting safety audits and inspections, identifying hazardous areas, and developing emergency response plans. These measures are necessary to prevent employees from getting hurt on the job.

Providing Adequate Training

Providing adequate training is another essential element of an effective HR health and safety programme. HR support services can help businesses create training programmes that cover a wide range of health and safety topics, such as accident prevention, first aid procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE), and ergonomic best practices. These training programmes aim to educate employees on the importance of health and safety and how to avoid potential hazards in the workplace.

Complying with Health and Safety Regulations

The broadest health and safety regulation is the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) 1974 in which employers are obliged to ensure, as far as is feasible, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. This establishes a ‘duty of care’ that all employers have. One way in which a business can support employers in the duty of care is an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). These beneficial support services cover many topics that may otherwise damage an employee’s health and wellbeing such as debt counselling, stress therapy or bereavement.

EAPs offer employees a confidential support service where they can access mental health and emotional support, amongst other things. EAP services are designed to support employees who may be struggling with personal challenges that may affect their health and safety in the workplace. HR professionals can help businesses understand these regulations and implement appropriate policies and practices to comply with them.

Supporting Health and Safety Initiatives

Such HR services provide ongoing support in the implementation of health and safety policies and initiatives. These initiatives can include promoting healthy work practices, such as proper nutrition and exercise, monitoring employee health, and providing access to counselling and other mental health resources when needed. HR professionals can work closely with management teams to create a culture of health and safety in the workplace. HR support also provides safety training that educates employees on the best practices when it comes to workplace safety. Employees are taught how to stay safe in their work environment and how to identify the signs of a potential threat to their health and safety.

Reducing the Risk of Legal Liability

A critical role of HR is conducting risk assessments in the workplace. HR monitors potential safety hazards and identifies areas of risk. They conduct risk assessments to determine any risks that employees may encounter while fulfilling their job responsibilities and suggest changes to how tasks are carried out to minimise these risks. Implementing a robust HR health and safety support service can significantly reduce the risk of legal liability for a business. If an employee is injured or becomes ill as a result of a workplace hazard, the business may be held responsible. However, with proper training and policies in place, a business can minimise the risk of accidents or illnesses occurring, which can, in turn, reduce the risk of legal liability.

Develop and Implement Safety Policies

Developing and implementing safety policies and procedures that are aligned with the relevant health and safety legislation ensures that your organisation complies with its duties. HR also works with teams across the organisation to ensure that safety policies are understood, well-communicated, and effectively enforced.

Facilitates Communication and Support

HR plays a vital role in creating an open and supportive culture in the workplace. They need to facilitate communication and support both amongst employees and between employees and HR. Employees need to feel comfortable coming forward with any concerns they have regarding their health and safety, and HR needs to be responsive to these concerns. A culture of open communication and support helps employees feel heard and understood and ensures that any problems are addressed promptly and adequately.

How To Take Care of Workplace Health and Safety For Your Business?

Health and safety support services are crucial to any business, regardless of size or structure. Outsourcing HR health and safety support services creates a safe and healthy work environment for employees by providing adequate training, complying with relevant regulations, supporting initiatives, and reducing the risk of legal liability. Having a strong HR health and safety programme in place is critical for the well-being of employees and the success of any business. So, if you are a business owner, make sure to invest in your HR health and safety programme with Harwood HR Solutions today to ensure a safe and secure work environment for your employees.