You probably believe you’re creating a safe environment for your employees. However, are you positive that all safety protocols are being followed? All it takes is one tiny mistake for accidents and injuries to occur. Some workplace hazards are almost impossible to spot unless you know what to look for.
Did you know there’s a simple way to ensure you have a safe work environment? Partnering with engineering safety consulting services can be an effective solution that can also come with a few surprising benefits.
Benefits of Working with an Engineering Safety Consulting Service
When you partner with an engineering safety consulting service, you’re taking proactive steps to help ensure the well-being of your staff. The company looks for hazards that may have escaped your notice. Not all dangers are immediately obvious. Some can stay hidden until an accident happens.
A safety consulting company is also familiar with all OSHA standards. Considering the sheer number of potential safety violations listed in OSHA’s handbook, it’s almost impossible for the average layperson to figure them all out. Thankfully, the engineering safety consulting firm has this handled.
Some of the benefits you typically see with an engineering safety consulting firm include:
- Fewer employee accidents and injuries
- Productivity levels tend to increase
- Employee morale and job satisfaction rates typically see a boost
You’re also in compliance with all government and industry safety regulations so you can stop worrying about potential fines and other penalties. Some penalties for running an unsafe environment can result in temporarily closing your facility until changes are made. This can be time-consuming, expensive, and significantly impact your business’s bottom line.
When you can provide your team with a safe workplace, you’re also reducing your risk of being hit with a personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits can be common, even if you’re carrying workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation doesn’t cover all damages and it’s not uncommon for employees to file a lawsuit. A lawsuit can help employees recover expenses not picked up by workers’ compensation. As a business owner or manager, going through a lawsuit can be expensive both in terms of time and money.
Choosing an Engineering Safety Consulting Firm
Now that you know a little more about the benefits of working with a third-party engineering safety consulting firm, you may be ready to partner with a service provider. However, you probably don’t want to pick the first name that pops up in a Google search.
Not all engineering safety consulting firms offer the same services or have the same level of expertise. Here are a few factors to consider when you’re searching for the right engineering safety consulting firm.
Services Offered
If the safety consulting firm doesn’t offer the services you need, obviously it’s not the right option. If the company doesn’t list its provided services, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
You should also look for a service with experience in your industry. For example, if you’re in the electrical field you probably don’t want to partner with a safety consulting service that focuses on the oil and gas industry. The safety regulations can vary from one industry to another and OSHA requirements are strict.
Industry Experience
We mentioned earlier that OSAH safety regulations can be complex and misunderstanding the meaning of one isn’t going to get you out of a violation.
The engineering safety consulting firm should have plenty of experience in your industry. This helps make sure that the service provider can detect all hidden hazards and that it’s familiar with all OSHA standards.
Another reason experience can be a crucial metric is for training. The service provider should be able to train your key employees to spot and correct hazards.
Check Client Reviews
Businesses frequently engage in a bit of self-promotion and there’s nothing wrong with this marketing tactic. Businesses can help get the word out about the services they offer.
Something to keep in mind is a business isn’t going to use anything other than positive wording. This doesn’t exactly give you a clear picture of what others think of their services. For this type of information, turn to the company’s client reviews.
The client reviews are posted by businesses similar to yours. They have used the engineering safety consulting firm’s services and usually have an unbiased opinion of their performance. Read both the positive and negative reviews, it’s surprising what you can learn from your fellow consumers.
If the engineering safety consulting firm doesn’t have any negative reviews, it can be a red flag. Almost every business has at least one unsatisfied customer, keeping everyone happy is simply impossible. The safety consulting firm may be hiding its poor reviews and it’s a good idea to learn why.
Ask About the Technology and Tools They Use
An engineering safety consulting service should use industry-appropriate tools and technology. Assessing a workplace for hidden dangers takes a little more than a simple walkthrough.
Equipment needs to be checked, and this can include electric wiring. Most engineering safety consulting firms also use software that runs analyses and produces updates in real time, which can be crucial for preventing accidents.
The software should also let you know which safety updates are completed and when. Other helpful software features include being able to monitor employee attendance and track workplace accidents. If you can share the information with others on your team, it can make a difference.
When all stakeholders are on the same page, workplace incident rates tend to decrease. Keeping your workplace as safe as possible requires communication and documentation.
Keeping Your Workplace Accident-Free
You may not be able to prevent all workplace accidents but you can take steps to minimize everyone’s daily risk by partnering with an engineering safety consulting firm.
However, before choosing a third-party provider, take some time to perform a little research. Not all safety consulting firms are equal, even in the same industry.
