The potential for workplace injuries should be a big concern for businesses, since it can lead to workers’ compensation claims, potential lawsuits, and financial strain. While some injuries can’t be prevented, many can by creating a safer work environment.
Businesses that don’t prioritize injury risk management are more likely to experience financial and regulatory consequences when someone gets hurt.
Here’s why risk management – no matter the size of your business – requires implementing a strategic injury prevention plan.
Injuries are costly
One small injury can cost an organization thousands of dollars, depending on how the situation is handled. Typically, an injured party will file a workers’ compensation claim and get paid through their employer’s insurance policy. Each claim can increase the cost of the premium, which can add up over time.
However, if a company doesn’t carry workers’ comp, they’ll probably get sued and be required to pay a massive judgment to the injured worker, not to mention the application of regulatory fines.
To prevent financial strain, it’s crucial for business owners to prevent as many injuries as possible. With so many variables that differ between industries, it’s hard to pinpoint specifics, but in general, here’s what needs to happen:
- Create a formal safety policy.
- Enforce safety policies across the board.
- Train employees routinely with a focus on being proactive.
- Require internal certification to operate heavy machinery, like forklifts, balers, and WAV vehicles.
These are the most critical aspects of a workplace injury prevention strategy.
Here’s a breakdown of each component.
Safety policies
A clear, specific, and well-crafted safety policy is fundamental to any risk management strategy. Policies serve as a clear guide for expected behavior, habits, and preventive measures to be taken for various tasks. Your safety policies should be specific to the nature of your business and its risks, and it should comply with all state, local, and federal regulations.
Key elements include:
- Clear objectives for minimizing workplace hazards.
- Company procedures for identifying, reporting, and mitigating risks and incidents.
- Regular updates that adapt your policies to changes in technology, your environment, or regulations.
Employees must understand your policies before they’ll follow the rules. Onboarding is the ideal time to introduce employees to your safety policies, but they should be revisited periodically through training.
Policy implementation and enforcement
It’s one thing to have a nice-looking manual that describes the importance of wearing safety equipment while working with machinery. Many businesses have this type of documentation, but fail to implement and enforce the very safety requirements outlined in their own policy.
Implementing your safety policy requires having the required safety equipment on hand for workers at all times, and keeping it in good shape by replacing worn or broken equipment.
Enforcing your safety policy is vital. A policy is only as good as its enforcement. Everyone should be held to the same standards. When it comes to safety, you don’t want to give anyone the impression that they can cut corners without consequence. That will only lead to workers’ comp claims, lawsuits, and regulatory fines.
Ongoing training
Workers don’t usually retain everything they’re taught during their initial training sessions. It helps to hold separate safety training programs, but that’s still not enough. To keep your team on top of their safety game, you’ll want to provide required training periodically throughout the year as a refresher.
Ongoing training also gives you the chance to introduce new concepts, discuss new dangers or threats, and update your team regarding policy or system changes.
Required certification
If you don’t create an internal certification program for heavy or dangerous equipment use, you’re risking serious injury. Without certification requirements, new hires will attempt to use the equipment with or without instruction. You never want to rely on employees to casually train others on how to use equipment because that’s almost guaranteeing someone will be hurt.
When you create a certification process, you get to create a training program that emphasizes critical points, and you can choose your most competent trainers to do the work.
Injury risk management will protect your business
Injury risk management begins with creating and communicating clear policies. When employees fully understand your safety policies, they’re more likely to follow the rules, which significantly reduces the risk to your business.
Although you may be required to implement a risk management program, doing so is more than meeting a regulatory requirement – it’s a commitment to creating a safer, more efficient workplace.
