Every employer owes their employees safe and secure workplaces. A safe and secure workplace boosts employees’ productivity and morale. For the employer, a safe and secure workplace can mean healthy workers and low turnover, among other benefits.
Unfortunately, workplace accidents are all too common in the U.S. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that 2.8 million workplace injuries happen in the U.S. each year. Fortunately, there are certain steps employers can take to reduce the incidents of workplace accidents and injuries. Here are some of them:
Adequate staffing
It is not uncommon for understaffed organizations to offer workers overtime hours in an effort to meet production targets. Overworked employees are likely to be exhausted; exhausted workers are likely to resort to shortcuts in order to meet their targets. While cutting corners, exhausted workers are often vulnerable to making mistakes that can result in accidents and injuries. The organization can address the issue of exhaustion by hiring seasonal workers when production demand is high.
Provide safety equipment for employees
Depending on the nature of their work, employees require safety equipment to effectively perform their tasks without sustaining injuries. For instance, employees at a construction site should be provided with safety gear like helmets, goggles and toecap boots for better protection from flying and sharp objects. Likewise, workers in a warehouse that frequently carries loads should be provided with back braces for protection against strains.
Routinely train your workers on safety
Every employer has a legal responsibility to provide the appropriate training that workers require to perform their duties safely. In fact, occupational safety training is a fundamental part of the new employee onboarding process. Alongside routine training, it is important that employers put in place an accident report log so recurring incidents can be investigated and addressed.
A single workplace incident can impact both the affected employee and the business immensely. Find out how you can pursue workers’ compensation if you are hurt at work by calling us at 912-289-0640 or sending us an email.
