Safe Working Practises in the Scientific Workplace 30/04/19
What are Safe Working Practises?
Safe Working Practises are usually written methods. These safe working practises are written methods which outline how
to carry out a task ensuring risk is minimised to people, materials, equipment, the environment and processes. Whereby
safe job procedures are a series of certain steps which guide a scientist through a task in a chronological manner from start
to finish. These are designed to essentially reduce the risk through minimizing any potential exposure. Safe working
practises are usually developed through completing a Hazard Assessment and this should reflect closely the company’s
approach to controlling hazards. Safe work practises can be established for addressing significant hazards or when dealing
with circumstances that could possibly cause other significant liabilities or risks for the company. Whilst safe job
procedures are generally developed through management and works due to a Hazard Assessment, accident investigation
and a supplement to a safe work practise. Certain regulations do require employers to have written instructions/
procedures for certain activities and conditions. The amount of procedures/practises along with the degree of detail is
dependent on the various work activities the company performs. It is rather important that supervision and management is
involved during the development of safe working practises and that adequate training is provided for workers who are
likely to be following these practises. All safe work practises should ideally be kept in a location which is central to the work
which is being carried out and also always be readily available to the workforce. Specific job procedures are required for
some safe working practises as these will set out clearly in a chronological order each step of a process. Included in the
company’s ‘Worker Orientation’ programmes should be safe work procedures. All employees need to be aware of the
established safe job procedures which are in effect and written down which must be followed.
Health & Safety
Safety within a workplace also describes the procedures and policies which are put into place to ensure the health and
safety of employees within a workplace. This involves control and hazard identification in accordance to government
standard, on-going safety training and education for employers. Safety training is in fact a federal law which oversees the
employer’s requirement to provide a workplace for employees which are free from hazardous conditions. Employees need
to be responsible as this ensure they’re taking all the precautions so that they and fellow workers are protected. In today’s
workplace safety training is a major concern for both employers and employees.
In fact, employees have a legal right to expect a work experience which is safe and healthy. Although it may feel like the
health and safety of a workplace is an obligation and costly to the owners it does have its advantages in regard to loyalty
and productivity. Owners of businesses should know that a safe workplace is one of the key components in developing a
positive corporate culture. Many if not all employers would strongly agree that preventing accidents and possibly death to
employees is a rather natural priority. The majority of issues regarding safety don’t arise out of intentions which are
nefarious however, when it comes to a business who cuts corners and doesn’t take the time to train employees effectively
on safety protocols it’s a different story. In the workplace health and safety procedures greatly reduce employee illnesses
and injuries. These procedures are able to help understand the potential hazards present in the workplace environment.
Training is also important as the employees will become educated on proper workplace practises, procedures and
behaviour to try and prevent injuries, illnesses or even contamination from improper hygiene. The implementation of
health and safety procedures are necessary as paying for work-related illnesses and injuries can negatively affect the
businesses bottom line. Injuries cost time and money. Employers pay thousands almost every week in worker’s
compensation costs. It’s required that employers have worker’s compensation insurance policies however, injuries do
increase the basic costs. If an employer is underinsured the gap of coverage is the employer’s responsibility. Employees
who miss work due to a workplace injury or illness will continue to be payed by the employers. If the absence is long-term
the business may hire another worker to temporarily replace the injured employee. In manufacturing or construction
plants an injury could possibly lead to an entire operation shutdown until an investigations carried out. Unsafe working
environments and workplace injuries are bad for an employee’s morale. An employee who is constantly being concerned
about becoming hurt is likely to be unable to fully devote their whole attention into daily work task. Whereas employers
which maintain a healthy and safe working environment and conduct employee training on safety will build a much
stronger relationship with the employees and this will make the employees feel like they belong to a team. By doing this it
creates loyalty whilst increasing team morale which has a direct correlation to productivity. There are also numerous
employees who don’t take into consideration their surrounding hazards. However, it’s important for them to observe their
co-employees working circumstances. So, establishing the particular hazards which do and can occur within the workplace
will help when trying to reduce risk and to allow precautionary steps to be taken. It needs to be understood especially by
business owners that safety goes well beyond employees. In regard to productivity, positive team morale increases positive
interactions between customers, and this leads to customer loyalty and retention. Posters regarding health and safety
should be placed in areas where all employees are able to read and review them when they like. If employers were to
violate safety laws, there’s a possibility legal and financial ramifications may occur. Even in the safest workplaces accidents
do happen. Even if employers were to have worker’s compensation insurance, they are negligent in providing a work
environment which is safe and healthy and employees or even the family of a deceased employee is able to sue for
damages. Particularly for small business a lawsuit could potentially put the company into bankruptcy.
1
What are Safe Working Practises?
Safe Working Practises are usually written methods. These safe working practises are written methods which outline how
to carry out a task ensuring risk is minimised to people, materials, equipment, the environment and processes. Whereby
safe job procedures are a series of certain steps which guide a scientist through a task in a chronological manner from start
to finish. These are designed to essentially reduce the risk through minimizing any potential exposure. Safe working
practises are usually developed through completing a Hazard Assessment and this should reflect closely the company’s
approach to controlling hazards. Safe work practises can be established for addressing significant hazards or when dealing
with circumstances that could possibly cause other significant liabilities or risks for the company. Whilst safe job
procedures are generally developed through management and works due to a Hazard Assessment, accident investigation
and a supplement to a safe work practise. Certain regulations do require employers to have written instructions/
procedures for certain activities and conditions. The amount of procedures/practises along with the degree of detail is
dependent on the various work activities the company performs. It is rather important that supervision and management is
involved during the development of safe working practises and that adequate training is provided for workers who are
likely to be following these practises. All safe work practises should ideally be kept in a location which is central to the work
which is being carried out and also always be readily available to the workforce. Specific job procedures are required for
some safe working practises as these will set out clearly in a chronological order each step of a process. Included in the
company’s ‘Worker Orientation’ programmes should be safe work procedures. All employees need to be aware of the
established safe job procedures which are in effect and written down which must be followed.
Health & Safety
Safety within a workplace also describes the procedures and policies which are put into place to ensure the health and
safety of employees within a workplace. This involves control and hazard identification in accordance to government
standard, on-going safety training and education for employers. Safety training is in fact a federal law which oversees the
employer’s requirement to provide a workplace for employees which are free from hazardous conditions. Employees need
to be responsible as this ensure they’re taking all the precautions so that they and fellow workers are protected. In today’s
workplace safety training is a major concern for both employers and employees.
In fact, employees have a legal right to expect a work experience which is safe and healthy. Although it may feel like the
health and safety of a workplace is an obligation and costly to the owners it does have its advantages in regard to loyalty
and productivity. Owners of businesses should know that a safe workplace is one of the key components in developing a
positive corporate culture. Many if not all employers would strongly agree that preventing accidents and possibly death to
employees is a rather natural priority. The majority of issues regarding safety don’t arise out of intentions which are
nefarious however, when it comes to a business who cuts corners and doesn’t take the time to train employees effectively
on safety protocols it’s a different story. In the workplace health and safety procedures greatly reduce employee illnesses
and injuries. These procedures are able to help understand the potential hazards present in the workplace environment.
Training is also important as the employees will become educated on proper workplace practises, procedures and
behaviour to try and prevent injuries, illnesses or even contamination from improper hygiene. The implementation of
health and safety procedures are necessary as paying for work-related illnesses and injuries can negatively affect the
businesses bottom line. Injuries cost time and money. Employers pay thousands almost every week in worker’s
compensation costs. It’s required that employers have worker’s compensation insurance policies however, injuries do
increase the basic costs. If an employer is underinsured the gap of coverage is the employer’s responsibility. Employees
who miss work due to a workplace injury or illness will continue to be payed by the employers. If the absence is long-term
the business may hire another worker to temporarily replace the injured employee. In manufacturing or construction
plants an injury could possibly lead to an entire operation shutdown until an investigations carried out. Unsafe working
environments and workplace injuries are bad for an employee’s morale. An employee who is constantly being concerned
about becoming hurt is likely to be unable to fully devote their whole attention into daily work task. Whereas employers
which maintain a healthy and safe working environment and conduct employee training on safety will build a much
stronger relationship with the employees and this will make the employees feel like they belong to a team. By doing this it
creates loyalty whilst increasing team morale which has a direct correlation to productivity. There are also numerous
employees who don’t take into consideration their surrounding hazards. However, it’s important for them to observe their
co-employees working circumstances. So, establishing the particular hazards which do and can occur within the workplace
will help when trying to reduce risk and to allow precautionary steps to be taken. It needs to be understood especially by
business owners that safety goes well beyond employees. In regard to productivity, positive team morale increases positive
interactions between customers, and this leads to customer loyalty and retention. Posters regarding health and safety
should be placed in areas where all employees are able to read and review them when they like. If employers were to
violate safety laws, there’s a possibility legal and financial ramifications may occur. Even in the safest workplaces accidents
do happen. Even if employers were to have worker’s compensation insurance, they are negligent in providing a work
environment which is safe and healthy and employees or even the family of a deceased employee is able to sue for
damages. Particularly for small business a lawsuit could potentially put the company into bankruptcy.
1
