Professional security: the role of the employer

Any employee has rights such as evolution in a safe work environment. There Work safety It is essential for the correct functioning of a company.

The employer has obligations that he must respect. Its employees must be able to work without fear for their safety and health. This is one of the challenges of a good CSR approach.

In order to combat professional risks and in particular prevent them, there are solutions and prevention actions. With this article, safety at work will no longer have secrets for you.

In 2019, 655,715 working accidents were recognized on the basis of a study conducted by health insurance – professional risks.

What is safety at work?

Concerns about work safety protection of workers in the exercise of their function. The goal is to protect them from work accidents and occupational diseases

In fact, any professional activity generates risks for employee safety. Supervised by the Labor Code, safety at work has seen the birth of new regulations and prevention measures.

French law does not play with the rules ofHygiene and safety at work. Evaluate, anticipate, limit and prevent risks are part obligations of the employer.

The latter must offer its employees at any time. Women and responsible men must be able to carry out their homework in the best conditions.

Obligations of the employer

In terms of professional security, the employer has certain responsibilities. THE obligations of the employer In terms of health and safety at work, they exist to supervise and protect employees.

Therefore, you must guarantee the safety of your workers and also evaluate the Professional risks that you must also be recorded in Single document for professional risks.

According to articles L4121-1 and L4121-2, «the employer adopts the measures necessary to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of workers».

Must therefore implement actions of Professional risks prevention But also information and training.

He must offer a healthy and safe work environment by evaluating the risks and fighting them at the source. In addition, its obligation is to replace everything that can be dangerous and adopt collective and individual protection measures.

Finally, the employer must adapt the work to humans in terms of equipment and taking into account the state of evolution of the technique. Prevention remains the priority to avoid any accident.

Note : In case of non -compliance with the employer’s obligations, its civil and/or criminal liability can be involved.

Professional risks

Falls, exhibitions to dangerous products, accidents, burnout … an employee can be the victim of different professional risks.

There are different types of professional risks that are:

• Mechanical : This concerns all the risks related to mechanical and mobile devices. Objects, cuts, perforations, projection of solid particles, crushing caused by an object are part of it;
• Physicist : These are the risks caused by the vibrations produced by machines, by a too high sound level, too high or too low temperature, the bad weather connected to the work or the quality of the air and lighting;
• Chemicals : Here, we refer to any exposure to chemicals by inhalation, ingestion or contact with the skin. Gas products, liquids or solids that have carcinogenic, toxic, corrosive or irritating properties are also concerned;
• Biological : Biological risks include any exposure to infectious agents. They can occur by bite, bite or even simply inhalation or contact with the skin;
• Radiological : In some environments, professional risks may derive from exposure to radiation (laser, UV and IR …) and/or radio elements as various electromagnetic radiation;
• Psychological : Even psychological risks must be taken into consideration. Contested with a colleague, physical assault of a customer, harassment, managerial stress, excessive mental accusations … The psychic risks are varied and numerous.

Professional risks prevention

In order to prevent these professional risks, it is essential Perform prevention actions.

As a employer, it is necessary to take some measures to ensure the protection of employees and anticipate the risks. This is your responsibility.

As mentioned above, it is therefore necessary to undertake the prevention of professional risks by information and training information. Furthermore, it is up to you to set up an organization and suitable means.

In terms of risk prevention, there are 9 principles:

1. Avoid risks;
2. Evaluate those who cannot be avoided;
3. Fight these inevitable risks;
4. Adapt the work to man, in particular for workstation, equipment and working methods;
5. Take into account the evolution of the technique;
6. Replace what is dangerous with what is not and what is less;
7. Prevention of the plan by integrating the technique, organization of work and social relationships;
8. The hiring of collective protection measures advance those of individual protection;
9. Give appropriate instructions to workers.

Respecting these preventive measures, the professional risks and work accidents that can derive from it are significantly limited.

How to improve safety at work?

Work safety is a crucial problem for all companies. Supervised by law, forces employers to respect certain commitments.

If it is defective, it is possible to improve it thanks to a series of actions:

• Create an action plan : Write in writing a series of security rules to be observed so that employees know how to act to limit professional risks and/or work accidents. As part of the dangerous work, educate employees on the rules to be observed.
• Evaluate all risks : Each workstation can be accompanied by potential risks. Inspect the workplace and identify possible defects. Make sure to guarantee a «safe» work environment by eliminating the dangers that your employees look.
• Awareness of employees : This is of fundamental importance. Regularly, sensitize your employees to the dangers related to their business. Whether physical or psychological, we warn your employees from the risks inherent in their profession. Do not hesitate to make frequent points and information meetings.
• Form employees : After information comes the training. Your employees must know the safety rules in force and be ready to face them. Training sessions are needed so that employees can work safely and react correctly to the elements that surround them. In addition, this is true for new arrivals as for your oldest collaborators.
• Be on page : The tools and safety rules that accompany them evolve. This is even more true with the development of new technologies. It is therefore necessary to know the latest standards and train the interested staff. In the same way, it is necessary to report any modification or review of the safety rules already in place.
• Keep track of all accidents : Despite all your efforts, accidents are coming. It is therefore recommended to warn and archive any accident to prevent this from happening again. The learning errors made can help you improve work safety.
• Listen to your employees : Your employees are in the best position to define the risks related to their profession. Listen to their complaints and their needs in terms of tools, equipment to carry out their tasks safely. If one of your employees attract your attention on a problem that can endanger one’s physical integrity, act and solve the problem as quickly as possible.

These are just some ways to improve safety and health at work. It is up to you to consider adequate solutions based on your business sector.

Why make work safety at work?

The good health of women and men who work for your business is essential. In addition to protecting them and offer them a safe work environment, allow them to thrive in their profession.

In fact, your employees can therefore carry out their mission without worrying about possible dangers and focus on their duties. They earn performance and you in productivity.

In addition, a company respectful of its employees promotes emulation and considerably reduces absenteeism. Above all, plays an essential role in well being From your employees who will come to work without the ball in the stomach and the fear of the accident.

The image of your brand and yours corporate culture it will come out. Less for the turnover, the quality recruits and qualified workers are available for you.

That’s why educating your employees is essential. Their security also provides for their good training. By regularly remembering the most important security rules, protect your employees as yourself.

Penalties for the employer

You don’t want one Work inspector Note the irregularities that damage the health and safety of your employees and run the risk of a temporary stop of your activities or worse. Six Guarantor for safety and working conditions of each.

The employer has a Result obligation. He must be able to demonstrate that he has adopted the necessary measures to ensure the safety of his employees. He must take all the precautions to avoid extinguishing them at a work accident or any occupational disease.

Risks:

• A civil sanction: to act for violation of the contract or report to the industrial court by the employee.
• A criminal / administrative sanction: criminal conviction at the criminal court or financial compensation for damages.

Don’t take risks. Play the security card. Both for your employees and for the sustainability of your company.