Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, having safe working conditions is important for everyone. Regardless of your industry, a workplace accident can become a costly liability—though, certain places are more prone to these situations than others. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take too many to put the company at risk. Fortunately, there are ways you can make any work environment safer, with only a few steps and minimal cost.
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Clean Up.
This seems like such a simple step, but it can make all the difference when workers are in a hurry. Taking the time to organize materials and provide ample storage can drastically reduce the likelihood of an accident. By encouraging workers to take a few minutes throughout the day to put everything back in its proper place and clean up any messes, you’re creating a workplace culture that values safety. Reward this behavior! Post reminders that emphasize the importance of these steps to safety. After all, a clean area doesn’t just look good—it makes for a more efficient and (most importantly) safer environment.
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Use Staff Trainings Strategically.
Now, you don’t want to overdo this step, but having periodic trainings to keep coworkers up on all the latest safety trends is a great idea! Rules and regulations have a way of changing, so consistent reviews are advised for even the most experienced employees. Practice doesn’t just make perfect—it can also make people complacent. When you get too comfortable in a certain routine, it becomes easier to make mistakes. That’s when accidents often occur. So, make trainings accessible. Try to introduce techniques that reduce risk and have them clearly posted around the worksite. While having trainings regularly is recommended, you shouldn’t need to invent reasons to schedule them. When you have something worthwhile to share, then you can host a training.
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Hire Good People.
This might seem like HR advice, rather than a safety precaution, but they really go hand-in-hand. Hiring an inexperienced worker may seem like a less expensive answer to a staffing need, but it could end up costing you more than you think. Without the right experience and/or training, this employee is far more likely to get injured on the job. So, you need to consider the qualities you want in all of your employees—entry level, supervisors, and everything in between. With the right management in place, they can instill the value of safety throughout the company. Even when you’re not around. They can also assist with hiring newer employees that seem both cautious and capable.
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Offer the Right Tools.
With updated equipment and better safety features, you’re ensuring the protection of the full staff. Even the little things, like steel-toed boots and goggles can help you avoid much larger costs—like workman’s compensation claims. So, take the initiative to make these resources available to all employees and update them when necessary. Not only will this encourage the staff to actually use them, but also, it’ll do wonders for employee morale. Once you show that you value them—and their safety—they’re more likely to be productive and take basic precautions.
While you can’t put a price on workplace safety, you can tally up the cost of on-the-job injuries. In the United States alone, business owners pay billions of dollars in damages and insurance fees every year. To learn more about this, and the resources you can use to control this, visit OSHA’s website. For a revision of your company’s annual workman’s compensation and other business insurance lines, give Freedom Insurance a call!
