Good Leaders and Employees’ Safety: Qualities,Behaviors & Expectations (Essay Sample)

Good Leaders and Employees’ Safety: Qualities, Behaviors and Expectations
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Good Leaders and Employees’ Safety: Qualities, Behaviors and Expectations
Good leaders should ensure the safety of their employees by implementing the recommended practices for safety and health in workplaces. They should set safety and health as a top priority by ensuring workers report and leave work safely (Manuele, 2019). Leadership through example is key in encouraging and ensuring the safety of the employees. Good leaders should practice safe behaviors and make them part of their daily conversation with workers. They should also develop a simple reporting system where employees can report incidents of illnesses, injuries, accidents, and health concerns without fear of retaliation (Lyubykh, 2022). Reporting programs should provide anonymity as a way of protecting employees from retaliation.
Additionally, it's important to inspect workplaces and machinery and ask workers to identify activities, equipment, or machinery that requires changing. Despite all measures, accidents and emergencies happen at workplaces (OSHA, 2016).. Good leaders should identify foreseeable emergencies. Develop instructions on the remedy and discuss these procedures with the employees.
The performance and engagement of employees increase when employees feel encouraged and safe. Employees feel safe when they know their leader and team have their back and can help them when the need arises. According to Simon Sinek in his Ted Talk, when employees feel unsafe, they waste time and resources to protect themselves. Such employees fail to take healthy risks but blame others when accidents happen (Sinek, 2014). Employees who are not motivated work only to satisfy their needs, lack teamwork spirit, and cannot stand up for each other. Similarly, leaders should lead by example and treat their subordinates fairly to earn their trust. Good leaders attribute their success to teamwork and not selfish selves.
Responsible leaders understand that having a safety and health program is to prevent workplace injuries, fatalities, suffering, and losses. This program shields both the employer and employee from inconveniences and losses resulting from risky behavior at the workplace (Lyubykh, 2022). Implementing a safety and health program requires a committed leader and cooperation between employees and employers (OSHA, 2016). When implemented appropriately, the program leads to improved products and services, enhanced morale at the workplace, improved staff retention, and a good reputation for the organization among clients and the community.
When workers feel safe at their workplace, and within their team, they utilize their energy positively. The feeling of safety motivates them to do what is in the best interest of the team and organization (Lyubykh, 2022). Motivated employees take care of the organization's property and share recognition with others. To make employees feel safe, great leaders must be proactively transparent, create time to listen to each team member, make inquiries about the well-being of the workers and the safety of their working environment, and express gratitude to the team (Manuele, 2019). Responsible leaders create a conducive working environment by being open and collaborative and asking tough questions when situations arise.
By implementing and ensuring strict adherence to the