It can be difficult to go to work in the morning knowing that not all safety precautions have been taken by your employer to protect you and your co-. Do you simply not show up for the job, or do you take the issue to a supervisor or a human resource official? Do you file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)? Here are some things to keep in mind when suggesting safety changes at work.
Document the issue that led you to make a safety suggestion. You can do this by taking pictures of the incident or hazardous area, writing down what happened and getting statements from witnesses to the incident.
Present the suggested safety change to your direct supervisor before going over their head. Provide them with all of the documented evidence you have from the incident. The ball is now in their court. Give it a couple of days or weeks before moving up the chain of command.
Have a plan in place for how to make the workplace safer and prevent injuries. Your plan should include recommendations to help prevent the hazardous condition from ever occurring again.
Don’t ever be afraid to speak up when it comes to your safety or the overall safety of the workplace. When you stay quiet and complacent, your employer will assume everything is fine.
Making sure that you are safe at all times while on the job should be the focus of your employer. You can make safety suggestions to your supervisors. If you do, document the suggestions and when you made them.
