In the electrical industries, safety is everyone’s responsibilities. From company heads and safety managers to each and every individual employee, a focus on safety should be a value that is shared across the company. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide safe work sites and adequate oversight to ensure that safety protocols are being met, and it is the employee’s responsibility to always practice workplace safety.
For most workers in the electrical construction field, safety is a priority. Safety is likely one of the first topics that is covered in any electrical construction apprenticeship program. For most workers, work site safety is practically second nature. However, when bad safety habits do crop up among electrical workers, it is crucial that these are quickly corrected. Bad safety habits can be addressed – and prevented – through in-house safety programs. On the job safety training should be an ongoing priority for any electrical construction company.
But at the end of the day, who is really responsible for workplace safety? Is it the employer’s responsibility, or does the responsibility rest squarely on employees’ shoulders? The answer, of course, is that both employer and employee bear equal responsibility when it comes to work site safety. Employers must cultivate a culture of workplace safety, and employees must comply with all safety protocols to ensure that safety is a priority throughout the entire work day.
When employers establish clear cut expectations regarding safety, employees understand what is expected of them. When employees adhere to the company’s safety protocols, as well as local, state, and federal safety regulations, employers can trust that safety is a priority company wide. When everyone at a company is on board with making safety a pressing obligation, the number of safety-related incidents are dramatically reduced. This means that companies must clearly communicate safety goals to all employees.
