Occupational safety is ever-evolving, and with that, worker redundancy and resiliency have shown to be critical components in maintaining a secure work environment. Redundancy is frequently associated with repetition and might appear counterintuitive when compared to efficiency. But, in the safety world, redundancy can be a powerful safeguarding tool against unexpected events. Acting as a robust safety net, redundancy and resiliency can protect both employees and assets.
In a workplace setting, redundancy can be defined as the duplication of critical systems, processes, or roles. Redundancy’s main objective is ensuring that if a component fails, there is a failsafe in place to precent incidents, injuries, or disruptions. An example of redundancy’s critical importance, in aviation, redundant systems such as multiple engines, duplicate flight control surfaces, and backup power sources are standard features. These particular redundancies are not viewed as inefficient but as essential safety measures. If a failure occurs, these safeguards ensure that the aircraft can continue to operate safely.
Compared to redundancy’s association with equipment systems, resiliency addresses the human factors in safety. Resiliency prepares workers to effectively respond to unforeseen challenges, hazards, and high-stress situations. Workers that are resilient are mentally prepared, adaptable, and thoroughly trained on how to make decisions under pressure.
Proper training and education are key aspects when talking about worker resiliency. Ensuring that employees are familiar with safety policies such as emergency procedures, safety protocols, and how to use safety equipment are necessary to worker resiliency. Developing muscle memory by performing regular drills and/or simulations can help reduce panic or confusion during an event and help employees respond to emergencies in a calm and effective manner. Going beyond technical skills, resiliency includes both stress management and psychological well-being. Employees who demonstrate mental and emotional resiliency have better tools to cope with traumatic incidents and emergencies, which then reduces risk of long-term trauma.
A powerful safety collaboration occurs when redundancy and worker resiliency are combined. Redundancy acts as a defense against equipment failures and unexpected events, while resiliency gives workers the ability to handle high-stress situations with competence and self-control. Consider this example in a chemical processing plant. Redundancy is installing a backup safety system can mitigate a catastrophe by preventing a chemical release in case the primary system fails. Concurrently, employees are trained in resiliency practices and can respond quickly and effectively, minimizing the hypothetical damage and ensuring everyone’s safety.
Making the investment in worker redundancy and resiliency both enhances safety and offers many benefits to companies:
- Reduced Costs: Initial investment for redundancy and training may be significant, cost savings in the long run is inevitable. The prevention of high-cost incidents, injuries, and property damage is worth the initial investment.
- Enhanced Reputation: Committing to worker safety by investing in redundancy and resiliency can give a company’s reputation a major boost, and therefore, attracting customers and potential investors.
- Legal Compliance: Considering many industries have strict safety regulations, ensuring adherence to these regulations through redundancy and resiliency can help employers avoid both legal issues and potential penalties.
- Employee Morale: Employees who feel prepared and safe through effective training and safeguards are more likely to have high job satisfaction, which has the potential to lead to increased productivity and reduced turnover.
With how fast-paced and unpredictable the world has become, redundancy and resiliency are vital pieces of workplace safety. Redundancy in equipment and systems act as a failsafe against unexpected events, while resiliency ensures human responses are both efficient and effective during times of crisis. Employers that embrace these values not only protect their employees but also realize endless benefits, ultimately fostering a safer work environment for everyone involved.
https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s240589631932694
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5127912/
