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Facility managers are often the unsung heroes of an organization. Their importance cannot be underestimated, especially since International institutions management market In the year It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.36% by 2027.
A facilities manager’s responsibilities are vast—they include everything from building maintenance and inspections to space management and security. Occupational health and safety (OHS) also falls within Facility management Domain. This article provides a brief overview of four strategies that facility managers can use to ensure employee safety and health.
1. Build a strong foundation
Something as critical as employee health and safety requires a solid foundation of management systems. The facility manager must ensure that the OHS management system is based on the Deming Cycle, otherwise known as Plan-Du-Check-Act, or the PDCA Cycle. PDCA’s generality and simplicity explain its enduring popularity across industries.
A systematic OHS management system not only ensures employee health and safety, but can also be the difference between life and death. Several industrial accidents have resulted from health and safety standards, including the 2005 explosion at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, which resulted in 15 deaths, 180 injuries, and $3 billion in damages and legal settlements. A 2020 study The accident concluded that the main cause of the catastrophic explosion was the non-standard process safety management (PSM) system in the refinery.
The August 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon was the most devastating industrial accident. The incident killed at least 218 people (most beyond the port where the explosion occurred), injured 7,000, and cost $15 billion. Damage to property. A leading factor The explosion is a poor storage of explosives and hazardous chemicals.
2. Raise the paper trail
Documentation can be the bane of any facility manager’s work life, but it provides proof of what has been done and what needs to be done. Consider documenting the paper trail of your OHS management system. Importantly, it should be the golden thread that connects all the elements of the OHS system.
Policies and procedures are critical to ensuring employee health and safety. A work manual informs workers how to perform specific tasks, such as how to safely use an angle grinder in a tool manufacturing plant or what personal protective equipment to wear to limit silica dust inhalation on a construction site.
Importantly, all documents must comply with current legal requirements. For example, according to the US Department of Labor, your organization may need to keep track of evolving laws regarding indoor and outdoor workers who may be exposed to hazardous heat. Occupational safety and health management (OSHA) by the end of 2021.
3. Facilitate communication
Health and safety are very personal to any worker, especially those who work in hazardous areas or carry out hazardous tasks. Any well-trained and risk-averse worker will know when their health or safety is at risk. That’s why the facility manager must help facilitate open communication at all levels of the organization, where employees feel free to voice opinions and concerns about health and safety.
The best way to communicate is to foster. The relationship between generations, are often overlooked in workplaces. Different generations may have different health and safety concerns. For example, younger workers may want more practical guidance on safety measures, while older workers may be more concerned about chronic work-related health risks. It would be good to remember that a millennial facility manager is dealing with baby boomers in management and Generation X and Generation P colleagues and employees.
4. Develop a culture of health and safety
Although corporate culture is difficult to pin down, anyone can tell the difference between a great corporate culture and a bad one. Health and safety are no different. A commitment to health and safety must be embedded in the organization, starting and driven from the top. with the word Worksafe Queensland“For a safety culture to be successful, it must be driven from the top – that is, a safety culture must be embraced and implemented by the CEO and senior managers.”
Mentoring is another great way to build a culture of health and safety based on communication and mutual trust as well as personal development. Novartis, the American-Swiss pharmaceutical giant, was concerned about the lack of personal development for some employees. It has been implemented successfully Mentoring programEmphasis on cross-border and cross-border labor unions.
Prioritize employee health and safety
Facility managers must juggle multiple functions. The advent of smart technology and the demands of customers and employees in the post-Covid-19 workplace will further complicate managers’ jobs, making them even more complex. But no matter how complex their workload, protecting the health and safety of their employees is critical to any facility manager. Beyond being a duty of care, it’s just the right thing to do.
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