Modern workplaces are becoming more complex every day. Workers seek meaningful work and a good work-life balance, while employers juggle organizational needs with employee well-being. It’s more crucial than ever to look after your people by prioritizing health and safety.
Total Worker Health is an integrated approach that addresses traditional safety hazards alongside factors like mental health, workload, and team dynamics. This holistic approach helps keep employees safer and happier, leading to better business outcomes.
What is Total Worker Health?
Total Worker Health (TWH) is an initiative developed by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to create safer, healthier work environments. Launched in 2011, it revolutionalized thinking by expanding the traditional view of worker safety.
TWH focuses on protecting workers from workplace hazards while promoting overall health and well-being. It goes beyond physical dangers like back pain from lifting heavy objects or exposure to dangerous chemicals. TWH also considers factors like stress, workload, wages, relationships, and mental health—all crucial for employee well-being and job performance.
The impact of ignoring TWH
High-risk industries, such as manufacturing and construction, face unique challenges affecting worker safety. For example, excessive workload and inadequate rest can lead to mental fatigue, increasing the risk of workplace accidents.
These challenges are not limited to traditionally dangerous industries. Long hours, unsupportive management, job insecurity, discrimination and poor communication can impact people in any workplace. Unchecked, these factors can impact mental health and lead to stress, lower productivity, absenteeism, and staff turnover.
The benefits of embracing TWH
Using TWH strategies can have enormous benefits to workers, employers, and society. It can:
● boost loyalty: policies like flexible hours and paid sick leave increase employee satisfaction and improve retention.
● reduce injuries: focusing on overall well-being helps lower the risk of incidents, and their associated costs.
● enhance mental health: addressing mental and physical health together creates a supportive environment where employees can thrive.
● detect risks early: identifying and managing risks early can prevent bigger issues down the line.
TWH promotes a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace. So, how can you embed a TWH culture in your workplace? Many organizations are embracing technology to drive efficiency in their TWH approach. Apps like SafetyCulture’s workplace operations platform can help you make it happen.
SafetyCulture gives teams the knowledge, tools, and confidence to work safely, meet higher standards, and improve every day. Your time is important. SafetyCulture helps you spend it where it counts.
5 ways to use technology to enhance TWH
Technology can play a pivotal role in boosting worker safety and well-being. It streamlines workflows, spots issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, and provides detailed insights into workforce performance. By centralizing information, it gives you a comprehensive view, enabling more informed decisions and proactive safety measures.
Here are 5 practical ideas for using technology in your workplace:
1. Inspections and audits
Streamline inspections and audits with digital checklists. Teams can easily conduct thorough checks on any device, including monitoring their daily well-being. Ensure compliance, quickly assign corrective actions and identify potential hazards before they become serious issues.
2. Real-time communication
Keep teams informed by creating and delivering engaging messages in seconds. SafetyCulture’s Heads Up feature allows teams to communicate instantly, share updates, get feedback, and ensure everyone is on the same page, no matter where they are.
3. Reporting and feedback
Make under-reporting a thing of the past. Digital apps make it easy for workers to report hazards, issues, and suggestions. With a proactive approach to safety and well-being, you can get the information you need fast and improve workplace culture.
4. Asset management
Total asset visibility improves uptime and reduces accidents. Easily track and manage your assets, ensuring all equipment is maintained in good working condition. Address issues promptly to boost worker safety and morale.
5. Training and upskilling
Continuous training is vital for keeping workers informed and prepared. SafetyCulture helps you create and deliver bite-sized training that fits into the flow of your team’s work, regardless of their knowledge gap, device, or location.
Solutions like SafetyCulture allow you to closely monitor your workforce’s mental and physical health and, if issues do arise, help employees get back on track before it starts to affect their work.
A real-world example
In the fast-paced world of NASCAR, the most successful teams don’t just look at physical hazards like vehicle handling or pit stop procedures. For the Trackhouse Racing Team, mental readiness and effective teamwork are crucial for success in an environment where every tenth of a second counts.
Trackhouse Racing uses the SafetyCulture platform to ensure every member is prepared to perform effectively. Their weekly routine includes using the SafetyCulture Inspections solution to check that cars are ready for race day, and using the Issues solution to give team members a platform to record feedback and provide solutions.
This strategy aligns with the TWH approach, emphasizing overall well-being and collaboration to help everyone make every second count, both on and off the track.
See how Trackhouse is driving better performance with SafetyCulture
Make every second count for your team
Implementing a TWH approach goes beyond protecting workers. It can enhance job satisfaction and overall well-being while boosting productivity and improving business performance. By integrating safety with overall well-being, organizations can create healthier, more engaged workplaces that feed creativity and productivity.
Using the right technology can encourage a culture where every second counts. Everyone benefits when workers stay safe on the job, feel motivated to perform, and have the time and energy to enjoy family and hobbies. Ask yourself this. What will you do today to encourage your team to get home safely?
This content is sponsored by:
