A Safe and Healthy Working Environment
A safe and healthy working environment starts with occupational health and safety (OHAS). Put simply, this means dealing with the safety, health, and wellbeing of people when they are at work. Employers have a legal responsibility for their workers and must provide a safe working environment.
When OHAS comes to mind, traditionally many think of physical protection such as hard hats. However mental health and wellbeing in the workplace is becoming more widely recognised as an integral part of employee welfare.
Implement an OH&S Management System
ISO 45001 is the internationally recognised standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management. The standard provides a framework for health and safety processes to ensure the safety of employees and other stakeholders. ISO 45001 is implemented into many businesses in a variety of different industries.
Why become ISO 45001 certified? There are many reasons organisations choose to obtain certification. Main benefits include:
- Develop a culture of physical and mental wellbeing
- Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to health and safety
- Reduce employee absenteeism
- Ensure legal compliance
- Improve management of H&S compliance issues
- Enhance your reputation
Mental health initiatives should be included in your OH&S management system. Many of the requirements of ISO 45001 include areas where mental health can play a key part in implementation.
An Insight into Wellbeing
It is often mistaken that absenteeism at work mostly occurs due to a physical accident. However, it is important to consider the welfare and mental wellbeing of employees, sometimes that is not always visible. Mental health can take a huge toll on someone’s life, and not everybody will be aware of it, especially in the workplace.
Your place of work should be somewhere employees feel safe, as well as somewhere where they can gain a sense of achievement and purpose. As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure that employees do feel this way. Consider reviewing any existing incentives for employees, such as private healthcare which may include access to counselling services and other mental health support. If your organisation is unable to offer such benefits, it is worth looking at how else you can support employees who are struggling. Sometimes, even the small things can make a surprisingly big difference.
Not only can mental health affect a person’s mind and body, but it also affects the way in which they work, this could be in terms of output and productivity for example. Poor performance at work can be a sign of an employee who needs support with their wellbeing. Although this is not always the case, it’s best to ask the question.
Requirements of ISO 45001 and its Link to Mental Health
The requirements of ISO 45001, the standard for occupational health and safety management mean that your organisation must identify the needs, expectations, and possible hazards to your employees. Hazards could include anything that has the potential to cause stress in the workplace and have a negative impact on mental health. An example of this could be whether or not your working environment is considered high-risk. Another important consideration is whether limited resources result in large workloads.
By identifying the issues mentioned above via ISO 45001’s requirements, you can uncover the need for any mental health support and begin to set objectives and plans of how you will offer this.
Remember, a calm, non-discriminatory environment will likely result in better output and improved productivity. Happier, healthier employees who feel comfortable at work are more likely to perform well. Now more than ever is the time to consider implementing standards such as ISO 45001 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees is addressed and put first.
Are you Compliant with Health and Safety Legislation?
Psychological risks in the workplace are just as important as physical ones, as they can be just as damaging. ISO 45001 provides businesses with the tools needed to ensure healthier and happier employees and a safer workplace. Find Out More about ISO 45001and how it can benefit your company.
In need of health and safety advice or interested in obtaining ISO 45001? Candy Management Consultants are a friendly team of experts within the ISO and Health and Safety industries.
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