Creating Safer Workspaces: A GM’s Role in Risk Prevention

September 8, 2025

Creating Safer Workspaces: A GM’s Role in Risk Prevention

 

Every workplace carries risks—whether it’s a slip on the warehouse floor, a strain from lifting heavy boxes, or an accident caused by unclear procedures. For General Managers, the responsibility goes far beyond hitting productivity goals. You also play a key role in keeping employees safe.

A safe workplace isn’t just about compliance. It’s about building trust, protecting your team, and preventing costly mistakes before they happen. From training programs to smarter scheduling and open communication, GMs have the power to shape a culture where safety comes first.

In this article, we’ll look at practical ways GMs can reduce risks, improve safety practices, and create work environments where employees feel supported and confident on the job.

Workplace Hazards

Workplace hazards can take many forms. Some of the most common include:

  • Technological dangers: frayed wires, corrosive chemicals, or exposed machinery like gears and cables.
  • Human error: mistakes caused by poor training, negligence, or unsafe handling.
  • Environmental factors: noise pollution, water contamination, or unhealthy air quality.

Accidents caused by these hazards can lead to serious injuries, costly claims, and lost productivity. Consider the following real-world examples:

Back Injury and Costly Medical Expenses

One worker filed a $583,000 claim after suffering a back injury linked to poor supervision. Proper risk prevention and better manual handling policies could have prevented the injury—and the expense.

Fertilizer Plant Fire

A facility in North Carolina caught fire due to poor material handling practices. The disaster damaged property and forced the evacuation of over 6,500 nearby residents.

Risk Prevention Roles of the General Manager

A general manager should frequently revise and align safety guidelines with the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Examples of OSHA guidelines include fall protection training, eye and face protection, and recommendations for powered industrial trucks. 

Collaborating with third-party authorities like OSHA enhances a team’s emergency response standard operating procedures (SOPs) with expert-guided risk assessment strategies and detailed safety audits. Doing so enables companies to maintain a systematic methodology that considers every potential workplace hazard. 

Effective Safety Training Programs

An effective risk prevention program should emphasize the dangers at the worksite and how they affect surrounding people, property, and equipment. 

An ideal industrial risk prevention strategy ultimately fulfills three primary goals:

  • Avoiding occupational accidents that may lead to injury or death
  • Preventing costly workplace asset and property damages
  • Reducing the environmental damage caused by operations

Safety training focuses on the human aspect of risk prevention, where a reinforced approach ensures maximum accountability between workers at all levels. GMs may also introduce innovative training methods, such as mixed reality training for simulating realistic emergency response in various situations. 

Safety Enhancements With Technology

Technology gives GMs powerful tools to reduce risks. By pairing human training with smart technology, GMs can minimize errors and strengthen workplace safety. Let’s take a look at three types of tech tools:

IoT devices

Sensors track worker movement, temperature, and pressure changes in real time, sending alerts before issues escalate. Studies show IoT can reduce workplace accidents by 50% in construction and 35% in manufacturing.

Automation and analytics

Tools that predict risks allow faster, more informed responses in emergencies.

ERP software

Enterprise resource planning systems provide a big-picture view, helping GMs and supervisors communicate effectively and monitor anomalies.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Meeting OSHA standards is the baseline—but GMs can go further by building proactive emergency plans. Examples include:

  • Installing in-rack sprinklers and using heat-resistant materials to reduce fire risks
  • Conducting routine drills to test response times
  • Creating clear communication channels for emergencies
  • Continuously updating SOPs based on employee feedback and real-world results

Preparedness ensures teams know what to do before a crisis escalates.

Collaborating With Staffing Partners for Safety

Finally, the right staffing partner helps maintain a culture of safety. A trusted partner provides workers who are already trained in risk prevention and compliance, so companies can scale operations without sacrificing safety.

Snelling Staffing has decades of experience sourcing qualified talent with the latest occupational health and safety training. Our customized strategies ensure you get workers who are prepared for the specific risks of your industry.

Speak with Snelling Staffing today to advance your safety culture development by hiring the most suitable talent with modern technology.