What should a safety policy primarily aim to achieve?

A safety policy should primarily aim to promote a culture of safety within the workplace. This encompasses creating an environment where safety is valued and prioritized by everyone in the organization. A strong safety culture encourages employees to engage in safe practices, report hazards, and actively participate in safety training and initiatives.

Promoting a culture of safety goes beyond merely adhering to legal requirements or minimizing costs associated with accidents. While compliance with legal regulations is important, it is often just the baseline expectation. A policy focused solely on legal compliance may miss the broader goals of fostering proactive behaviors and encouraging individual responsibility for safety.

Additionally, prioritizing maximum employee productivity at all costs can lead to unsafe practices, as it might pressure employees to take risks that compromise their safety. Similarly, focusing exclusively on minimizing costs associated with accidents could result in underinvestment in necessary safety measures, which ultimately jeopardizes the well-being of employees and the organization's long-term success.