World Day for safety and health at work

International Labour Organization marks the World Day for Safety and Health at work on the 28th of April to encourage the prevention of workplace accidents and diseases worldwide. It is an awareness-raising campaign planned to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of workplace safety and health worldwide. In many parts of the world, national authorities, trade unions, employers' organizations and safety and health practitioners organize activities to celebrate this date (ILO, 2016)

According to new estimates by the ILO, the number of job-related accidents and illnesses, which annually claim more than two million lives, appears to be rising because of rapid industrialization in some developing countries (Nada, 2005)

Currently only 15% of workers worldwide have access to specialized occupational health services carrying out prevention of occupational risks, health surveillance, training in safe working methods, first aid and advising employers in occupational health and safety (WHO, 2018)

ILO (2016) The April 28th is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996. Its purpose is to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases by organization worldwide mobilizations and awareness campaigns on this date. As a designated WHO collaborating centre, the members of the global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health's overall purpose is to assist the organization in implementing the World Health Assembly Resolution(WHO, 2017)

While we honour injured and fallen workers, we appreciate and celebrate that these injuries and fatalities can be prevented and reduced, recognizing it as both a day for commemoration and celebration (I-Auditor)

References

ILO. (2016), History of 28 April, [Online]. [Last Accessed 10th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/WCMS_316480/lang--en/index.htm>

I-Auditor. (2018), Safety Culture, [Online]. [Last Accessed 10th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://safetyculture.com/world-safety-day> 

Nada, O. (2005), World Day for Safety and Health at Work , [Online]. [Last Accessed 10th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.who.int/occupational_health/mediacentre/pr280405/en/> 

WHO, (2018), Universal health coverage of workers, [Online]. [Last Accessed 10th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.who.int/occupational_health/activities/en/>

WHO, (2017), Global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health, [Online]. [Last Accessed 10th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.who.int/occupational_health/network/en/>

The importants of a good leadership in workplace safety and health

Julia (2006) stated, A good leadership produce a good result in workplace safety and health. A good leadership is a main key element of any safety organization, but it is not deeply understood by the managers how safety can be the main backbone behind the success of any organization (PPE, 2018)

Glen (2018) highlighted, Effective health and safety performance comes from the top; members of the board have both collective and individual responsibility for health and safety. Directors and boards need to examine their own behaviors, both individually and collectively, against the guidance given and, where they see that they fall short of the standards it sets them, to change what they do to become more effective leaders in health and safety (HSE, 2018)

Julia (2006) stated, Managers are the main leaders and the role models for a worker. Manages should encourage the workers to work out in the safe zone. A strong management is based on good safety and health performance.The main 4 actions for leaders towards health and safety (PennState, 2005)

• Plan the direction for health and safety
• Deliver health and safety
• Monitor health and safety
• Review health and safety

The qualities of a good leader to workout for a safety and health working place are :-

• Trust- make the workers feel safe to speak up
• Communication style
• good decision maker
• Involvement
• will be an example for others
• provide continues feedback 
• Problem solving mind
• flexibility
• Locus of control

References

PPE. (2018), The importance of leadership in safety, [Online]. [Last Accessed 16th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.ppe.org/the-importance-of-leadership-in-safety/>

HSE. (2018), Why leadership is important, [Online]. [Last Accessed 16th October 2019]. Available at:- <http://www.hse.gov.uk/leadership/whyleadership.htm>

Glen, L. (2018), The Most Successful Leaders Do 15 Things Automatically, Every Day, [Online]. [Last Accessed 16th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2013/02/18/the-most-successful-leaders-do-15-things-automatically-every-day/#6c5a49b269d7tps://www.slideshare.net/jovy88/a-culture-and-leadership-upholding-health-and-safety-at-work-16583531>

Julia, F. (2006), Commitment and leadership as key occupational health and safety principles [Online]. [Last Accessed 16th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/Commitment_and_leadership_as_key_occupational_health_and_safety_principles>

PennState, (2005), Leadership Commitment, [Online]. [Last Accessed 16th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://ehs.psu.edu/integrated-safety-plan/leadership-commitment>

Motivating safety and health at workplace

Jone (2018) indicated, Many employees do not take workplace safety as serious matter to their consideration. Even if they understand the value of safety, it is being hard to motivate the employees to get engaged with safety efforts (Reese, 2009)

Diyana (2017) shows, Motivating employees to participate in company's safety and health programs is essential to the success of the programs. And it is also said that the employees who are appropriately motivated to perform will be more productive, more engaged in their work at the workplace (Ashley, 2018)

What is Motivation?

nternal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Robin (2012) stated, the word motivation is often heard in an organizational environment.It is defined as the internal and the external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job or to make an effort to attain a goal (Reese, 2009)

The ways to motivate employees to follow the safety program

• Make safety and health an important part of the organization's culture
• Every members of the leadership team should be a positive example for employees
• Encourage employees 
• Use positive reinforcement
• Utilize employees feedback

nternal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.htm

Diyana (2017) shows, the advantageous factor of a successful motivational program are that there will be only few damages and injuries, and improvement in work production and quality. Employees who are well motivated will complain less and will become more easy going, sociable and active. The main reason behind all this overall result is that successful motivation program on safety and health. The best way to keep the employees participate in safety program is to offer a reward that will constantly remind them of their success (Robin, 2012)

References

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Ashley, V. (2018), 5 Ways to Motivate Employees to Follow Your Safety Program, [Online].[Last Accessed 18th October 2019]. Available at:- <http://www.staffmanagement.com/5-ways-to-motivate-employees-about-safety/>

Jone, C. (2018), How to Motivate Your Employees to Follow Your Safety Programs, [Online].[Last Accessed 18th October 2019]. Available at:- <http://responsablestaffing.com/safety-programs/>

Diyana, O. (2017), Motivating Safety and Health, [Online].[Last Accessed 18th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.scribd.com/document/291905997/topic-3-motivating-safety-and-health1-pdf>

Robin, R. (2012), Motivating and Promoting Safety, [Online].[Last Accessed 18th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2012/05/01/Motivating-and-Promoting-Safety.aspx>

Reese,  C.  D.  (2009).  Occupational  safety  and  health  management-A practical approach. New York: CRC Press

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.

Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/motivation.html

Workplace Violence

Broeck, etc., al (2011) stated, Workplace violence is a tough topic to speak about. Every year in our county people are being injured or killed due to workplace violence.Workplace violence is a term that we have to take serious about,it can affect anyone at anywhere at anytime (NSC, 2019). Workplace violence basically includes :-

• Harsh insulting words
• Harassment behaviors
• Threaten
• Physical harm such as hitting, kicking, squeezing, stabbing, or shooting

Hauge, etc., al (2009) stated, Workplace violence may come through co-worker (employee, supervisor, former employee), customer, stranger (robber, terrorist, rapist) or a familiarity person (Janet, 2018)

Some common reasons for workplace violence

• Staff shortages
• Work related arguments or disagreements
• Personal conflict
• Robbery
• Stress
• Not respecting on another at workplace
• Dissatisfied customers 
• No training program
• Revenge

How to prevent workplace violence 

• Establish a zero tolerance policy towards workplace violence
• Recognize the signs of trouble
• Should take immediate action when employee reports an incident
• Training on preventing workplace violence should be provided to all employees
• A safe work environment must be consistently maintained.

Employer and Employee Involvement towards the workplace violence

• Be familiar with your employer's workplace violence policy
• Take responsibility for making sure your workplace is secure
• Report warning signs, threats, or aggressive behaviors 
• Treat co-workers with respect 
• Help co-worker deal with stress

 Warning Signs of workplace violence

• Aggressive behavior
• speaking out indecently
• Excessive complaining
• Using drugs or alcohol at working hours
• Damage company equipment or property
• Ignoring company policies 

The best way to prevent workplace violence is to recognize the warning sign.

For the first time in Sri-lanka a book was published by an experienced corporate professional, Fiona Nanayakkara in the title as " Bully & Co". It acts as a self-help guide for employees facing workplace violence and the aim is to create awareness (Daily FT, 2018)

References

NSC. (2019), Assaults Fourth Leading Cause of Workplace Deaths, [Online]. [Last Accessed on 19th October 2019]. Available at:- <https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/workplace-violence>

Janet, L. (2018), Workplace Violence Takes Many Forms,[Online]. [Last Accessed on 19th October 2019]. Available at:- < https://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm/lifelines/january-2018/workplace-violence-takes-many-forms/>

Daily FT, (2018), Help for workplace harassment in Sri Lanka at hand for the first time, [Online]. [Last Accessed on 19th October 2019]. Available at:- <http://www.ft.lk/hr/help-for-workplace-harassment-in-sri-lanka-at-hand-for-the-first-time/47-609719>

Broeck, A. D., Baillien, E., & Witte, H. D. (2011). Workplace bullying: A perspective from the Job Demands-Resources model.Journal of Industrial Psychology, Vol. 37(2), pp. 40-51

Hauge, L. J., Skogstad, A., & Einarsen, S. (2009). Individual and situational predictors of workplace bullying: why do perpetrators engage in the bullying of others?. Work & Stress, Vol. 23(4), pp. 349-358