Like many other countries where providing health and safety training to all employees is mandatory, the Saudi Arabia government also considers it as every employer’s moral and religious obligation to provide a safe working environment to their employees. Health and Safety Training Saudi Arabia is one of the prerequisites that every organization has to follow in order to provide a productive yet safe environment to all their employees.
The global workplaces are evolving like never before and health and safety have become one of the primary focuses of most organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made employee’s wellbeing an integral part of how the organizations handle their safety stance. With the focus shifting to this aspect of the workplace, the role of a safety officer in workplaces has also taken a serious turn. They are no more just professionals who would take a session or two informing employees about the importance of health and safety training, they are the main pillars of ensuring that a workplace provides a safe working environment and the organization adheres to all standard safety protocols.
So, what does a safety office do at a workplace?
The main role of a safety officer is to prevent any kind of accidents, injuries, any kind of illness related to work, or any other mishaps that might happen during working hours. They are also responsible to make sure that the workplace maintains the highest standard of health and safety and that the measures taken by the organization are in compliance with the government rules. The safety officer is also responsible for creating written rules and regulations and keep them updated according to the federal laws. They must also ensure that all employees are aware of these rules and regulations and follow them at all times when they are on the office premises. This helps in extending the benefits of safety training to the employees.
Their role also demands them to keep a thorough vigilance of the workplace and ensure that all safety procedures are in place. And if there are any lags in the systems, they should be rectified immediately. The safety officer must also keep a record of the accidents that have happened in the past and implement learnings from them so that any future mishap can be avoided.
Basically, the safety officer is one point in contact person for everything related to the health and safety of employees at the workplace. This is the reason why they are an important part of an organization so that the company can make their employees feel safe. While this is one of the major benefits of having a safety officer, other benefits of safety training include:
- It helps the organization to be in compliance with the law
- Ensures that all workplace functions are safe for the employees
- A safe environment increases efficiency
- Better efficiency reduces overall spending as employees bring more productivity
- Improves the organization’s image and profile
Safety monitoring at the workplace
One of the major roles of a safety officer at the workplace is to plan ahead and ensure that all kinds of risks can be reduced. While it is nearly impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of mishaps, with robust planning and putting in safety measures in place, the frequency can be controlled. The safety officer works with the administrative staff to create plans and implement them wherever required so that the employees can function without fear.
Preparing for emergencies
Another important role that a safety officer plays in maintaining the safety of the workplace is keeping an emergency plan ready. In case of any such untoward event, these plans come in handy to evacuate the workplace and follow other safety procedures and contingency actions required to keep the situation under control. They also prepare written material and chart out rules and regulations for such situations.
Providing timely safety training
Training the employees about following the safety protocols, conducting mock drills, and keeping the employees aware of what steps to take in case of an emergency is yet another important role. They organize live training sessions where the employees can be made to practice various steps at the time of an emergency. These might depend on industry-specific workplaces, but the most common ones can be how to use a fire extinguisher, following the emergency exit plan, keeping themselves safe during a fire, etc.
Keeping up to date with rules and regulations
Every country has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to health and safety issues at the workplace. And it is the health and safety officer’s responsibility to keep the company’s rules and regulations in compliance with the ones charted out by the government. Any violation of these laws can result in penalties and can cost the company extra expenditure. So, following the safety guidelines as recommended by the government is an important part of the health and safety officer at the workplace.
While the importance of a safe work atmosphere is gaining a lot of significance in the Sultanate, health and safety training Saudi Arabia have also become primary for companies in the country. These training programs not only ensure that the employees are safe, but also reduce the possibility of any accidents occurring at the workplace.
