In the United States, workplace injuries cost the economy an average of $56 billion annually, so there is no doubt that work safety issues will be at the top of priority lists for employers this year. As a result, safety culture will become more visible with companies across a wide variety of industries.
What Will Work Safety in 2022 Look Like?
From PPE availability to virtual training, here are some of the most significant work safety updates to expect this year:
COVID-19 Vaccinations
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a renewed focus on wellness and safety guidelines in the workplace, placing heavy attention on keeping workers productive and safe. The withdrawal of the temporary standard that protected unvaccinated employees from workplace exposure to the coronavirus went into effect on January 26, 2022.
Although testing is no longer an enforceable standard, OSHA strongly encourages vaccinating workers against the deadly dangers posed by COVID-19 in workplaces.
Safety-Enhancing Wearables
Commercial wearables designed to promote and protect worker safety are already available, and 2022 will usher in a slew of even more advanced devices for this purpose.
These wearables will enhance the ability to meet safety guidelines and include things like hardhats with proximity sensors, watches with risk management features for hand-arm vibrations, real-time tracking devices for lone workers, and bio-sensing technology of various types.
PPE in the Workplace
Expect to see more personalized options for PPE this year. Instead of handing out generic lots of personal protection equipment, many employers are providing more performance- and comfort-leading PPE equipment. These devices include everything from disposable over-wear to gloves, masks, and head coverings.
The idea is that performance-based PPE will contribute to more efficiency and better productivity and that comfortable PPE will be more effective and prove to be less intrusive and hindering.
Virtual Training
Even though many companies were forced to train and meet online with the arrival of the coronavirus in 2019, now, virtual instruction and conversing have become a choice.
This trend will likely continue through 2022, especially with the development of coronavirus variants and the lingering presence of COVID-19. In addition, virtual training is cost-effective, efficient, and safer than in-person meetings.
More Reporting Apps
As 2022 continues, look for more apps that allow workers on all levels to report and track incidents, accidents, and near-misses in the workplace. Prompt reporting is essential for risk mitigation, and being able to quickly and easily report and process those reports is vital.
Traditionally, accident reporting has been a slow, tedious process that strained safety guidelines, but organizations are beginning to embrace apps that can complete these tasks quickly and accurately.
Start your SafeTeam Web Application 60-day free trial today.
Employee Mental Health and Well-Being
As the pandemic continues to take a toll on peoples’ mental health, employee well-being has now branched out and extended from being purely physical to including mental health more than ever before.
According to a CIPD report, in 2020, 61% of employers had employee well-being on their agendas. In 2021, that number had risen to 75%.
Expect increasing measures that focus on employee mental health, solutions for providing more support to those working from home, and additional measures to support well-being in response to COVID-19.
The Importance of Workplace Safety 2022
Safety in the workplace in 2022 must remain top-of-mind for several important reasons. The safer a work environment is, the more benefits there are for everyone involved. Workplace safety is crucial because it helps build many other positive forces in the workplace, including:
- Reduced workplace stress
- Improved risk mitigation
- Improved communication
- Reduced medical care costs
- Improved attendance
- Increased productivity
While there are many other benefits of maintaining work safety 2022 protocols in the workplace, the biggest, of course, is the protection of human life, health, and well-being.
If you’re looking to put safety first in your business over the coming year, contact Safety By Design to find out how we can help.
Tags: employee health, workplace safety
