The Challenges
The occupational risk prevention approach consists in taking a set of measures to identify risky situations and preserve employees’ health and safety at work. In this context, the company must implement all conditions that respect the physical and mental integrity of employees, and limit the consequence of a work accident or occupational illness. The prevention approach is a factor for personal and professional development of the company’s employees. It enables anticipating professional burnout, avoids skilled worker’s turnover, and promotes well-being at work, which has a huge impact on productivity.
By preserving health and quality of life at work, companies will make work more attractive by improving the social climate, and develop skills and knowledge. At the structural level, risk prevention improves the company’s social climate. As a result, the managers’ image will improve: quality of the products and/or services provided will increase.
At the national level, the cost of occupational illnesses has a heavy impact on the economy and social funds. Acting on individual risks at the source is also a way to avoid increasing collective costs, and improving the redistribution of social benefits for all.
Improving companies image and social attractiveness will lead to fewer incidents and accidents leading to productivity gains (improvement of company’s workstations, reduction of malfunctions and hardship). A reduction in staff turnover, and therefore a reduction in staff costs related to recruitment and training. OHS implementation cuts down scrap, and lowers accidents direct costs. With a decrease in direct costs related to work accident and occupational illnesses, a reduction in losses and shortfalls related to absenteeism, staff replacement or production delays, the prevention of occupational risks is a crucial issue which concerns all employers, regardless of the structure size or nature.
Risks and health assesment will help companies avoiding litigation, and help them being on the edge of every regulation change.