Is Workplace Safety Really a Priority? Let's Talk About the Role of PPE in Performance

World Health & Safety Day: Importance of PPE

Yesterday was observed as World Health & Safety Day. The day highlighted the importance of health & safety in the workplace, as it is directly linked to performance. The focus was on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and I noticed that there was no discussion on it. Should we, as HR professionals, really consider it important or just ignore it?

Regards

Dear Mr. Arooj Javaid, First of all, thank you very much for starting up this thread. Now, I have just learned about the worldwide celebration of a day dedicated to Health & Safety. I have read more about it on the [World Day for Safety and Health at Work - Events and training](http://www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/lang--en/index.htm).

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2011

The 2011 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the implementation of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) as a tool for continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents.

In India, we place importance on National Safety Day, observed on the 4th of March, and celebrate it every year. It seems that none of the Indian companies are currently celebrating this World Day for Safety and Health.

Looking ahead, in the upcoming years, we should put in our best efforts to celebrate this event and contribute towards promoting safety for accident prevention.

Thank you.

Hi Dipil, I have prepared a presentation on it. Do you have any idea how I should train the workforce on it? What should be the contents?

Dear Mr. Arooj Javaid,

Nice to see you back in the EHS forum after a long time. I will share how we train people on National Safety Day. You may like the way we have adopted and can adopt the same.

National Safety Day Activities

We conducted the main function on 4th March, and on that day, the function covered the following:

1. Flag Hoisting
2. Safety Pledge
3. Some speeches
4. Safety Street Plays among work groups (Drama Competition among workers related to our plant only. The theme was our safety standards and procedures)
5. Safety Song & speech competition
6. Awarding the best safety-conscious workmen
7. Inauguration of Exhibition stalls which lasted for four days.

Exhibition Stalls as Learning Centers

Now, coming to the exhibition stalls. This was the main attraction and learning center for the workers. We designed these exhibition centers based on our existing standards and procedures. Stalls covered different topics like Work at Height, Electrical Safety, LOTO, Excavations, Confined Space Entry, Chemical Handling, TPP Safe Operation, Fire, Health Care, Safety displaying various PPE, outside supplier displaying various rescue equipment and its use, etc.

We organized batches for workers and released them from work to visit these stalls. It took almost half to one hour in each stall. Almost all stalls were explained by distributing pamphlets in the local language (Hindi), and in some stalls like Fire, Rescue, W@H, etc., video films were shown. Once the workers completed visiting these stalls, they received a free coupon for lunch.

Overall, the effectiveness of this program was great. People tend to follow what they see rather than what is taught in the classroom.

Future Plans and Recommendations

I also advise you to organize such activities to make your training a grand success. Furthermore, we are planning to develop a Safety Park in my plant where we will permanently display all the Standards and Procedures stalls. Visiting this park during safety induction will then become a mandatory practice. Let's strive to do our best for the prevention of accidents.

Hope I have addressed your question. Please let me know your views.

I am working as an HR professional in a private limited company that specializes in the sales and service of industrial products. I wanted to address safety precautions, particularly with the service and installation team who work with cranes, compressors, and piping. It is essential that they utilize safety equipment such as goggles, belts, helmets, shoes, and gloves.

Emphasizing Safety Measures

I am seeking advice on how best to emphasize to them the importance of using these safety measures. I appreciated your post on presenting a PowerPoint for safety goggles. Please provide guidance on this matter.

Regards,
Nishat