Employee safety is always an employers number one concern. Although employers always take safety seriously, sometimes employees can refrain from making it a priority. As a CEO, I overcome this challenge through engagement.  According to California’s workforce data, “An engaged workforce can help organizations achieve their health and safety goals and objectives. Research conducted over the past decade shows that engaged employees are safer, more productive, make better use of corporate assets, are more likely to stay and are more supportive of organizational change. They also have lower rates of absence and they work harder to deliver strategic objectives.”

I agree. Reducing injuries and promoting healthier, safer employees means everyone in your office has to play a role. Some companies provide awards to employees who point out potential occupational hazards. Other companies provide bonuses to those who serve on safety boards within the workplace. There are several creative ways to encourage engagement, including adding additional PTO days for participating in non-required workplace drills.

An August 2010 Gallup study by Harter, Schmidt, Kilham and Agrawal established a relationship between employee engagement and organizational outcomes. The study found that companies where employees were highly engaged were on average 12 percent more profitable, 18 percent more productive, 25 percent more likely to stay, and almost 50 percent less likely to suffer workplace incidents or injuries.  These numbers are continuing to grow.

I encourage all employers to go above and beyond the required laws to ensure workplace safety. Help employees become engaged by providing bonuses, pto days, special gift certificates- or anything else- to help them take ownership of their own safety at work and promote the well-being of your own business.