As a business owner and employer, it is your moral and legal obligation to keep your employees safe and healthy at all times. Despite your intentional efforts to keep their work environment as safe as possible, workplace accidents and injuries do happen.
While some accidents are beyond your control, there are certain measures that will help minimize workplace-related injuries and reduce the costs associated with these. Below are five tips to consider to boost worker safety in your company:
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Identify and assess workplace hazards
Review your business operations thoroughly. Evaluate your employees’ work environment and activities as well as the equipment, machinery, and tools used for certain risks. Once you have identified the hazards, take steps to minimize or eliminate them.
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Establish safety guidelines and conduct training
Come up with a safety booklet that details safe work practices, then provide copies to your employees. Aside from this, train your workforce on identifying work dangers, workplace safety, and even first aid so they can respond more efficiently in case of an emergency. Ensure you revisit the safety measures and retrain your employees on a regular basis.
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Create a culture that highlights the importance of safety
Communicate to your workers, from the top management down to the juniors, that safety procedures are there for a reason. Emphasize that circumventing safety protocols will result in an increased risk of injury, decreased productivity, and higher costs related to training and overtime. Also, encourage your workers to report occupational concerns so these can be addressed immediately.
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Build an ergonomically friendly workplace
To prevent long-term employee injuries caused by repetitive movements as well as reduce worker compensation claims, observe ergonomic principles. Redesigning workstations, implementing training programs on the proper way of handling objects or equipment to avert back injuries and strains, and investing in fatigue mats make a huge difference.
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Screen potential employees properly
This may seem trivial, but making sure your potential hire has the professional skill and experience needed for a specific job translates to workplace safety. This is particularly crucial if you need someone to perform specialized tasks or strenuous activities, operate heavy machinery or equipment, or handle hazardous chemicals.
No matter how you’ve painstakingly devised a health and safety program in your company and heavily invested in training your staff, accidents remain a common occurrence. When an office mishap does arise, ensure you are protected by carrying workers’ compensation insurance. Such a policy can take care of your personnel’s medical costs and other related expenses.
If you have questions, need help assessing your risk, or would like to discuss your insurance options, please get in touch with us today.