In 2015, there were about 2.9 million reported nonfatal workplace accidents and injuries in the United States. These accidents are costly for businesses, as they have to pay for workman’s compensation, medical expenses, and even lawyer fees. In some cases, companies have to spend time and money hiring and training a new employee. The fact of the matter is that many workplace accidents are preventable. The following are just a few of many ways that employers can prevent workplace accidents.
Provide Proper Security Equipment
Providing an adequate amount of proper security equipment is essential. Many workplaces can benefit from having safety gloves, protective eye wear, secured and labeled shelving units, and even adding the right types of safety casters to material handling carts. Adding safety casters makes it easier to maneuver heavy or bulky loads, and there is less of a chance that someone will injure their backs, arms, legs, or feet with improper lifting and carrying techniques.
Have a Safety and Wellness Plan
An inclusive safety and wellness plan not only keeps workers safe in the work environment by encouraging cautious behavior, but it also helps employees with all-around wellness. When employees are eating better, getting sufficient exercise, and feeling mentally well, they are more likely to do their work well and be more cognizant of potential safety hazards.
Have a Sufficient Level of Staffing
Sometimes, employees can be overwhelmed by stressful factors when there are not enough staff on duty during a particular shift. This is one way that oversights can happen. Too few staff leads to too heavy of a workload for each individual. When there are enough staff on hand, operations run more smoothly, and there is less of a chance that someone might have an accident due to rushing their work or not being able to focus on hazards in the environment.
Refrain From Taking Shortcuts
Shortcuts might save your company money in the short-run, but in the long-term, it can prove risky. For example, if an employee is trying to get a piece of run-down equipment to work, they might rush to get the job done and not take into consideration safety hazards because they’re in such a hurry. Having up-to-date, quality equipment is one great way to avoid accidents from shortcuts.
Keep the Workplace Tidy and Organized
A clean, well-organized environment is less likely to produce accidents. A messy environment can prove unsafe. Water spillage, for example, can cause serious slip-and-fall accidents. An unsecured shelf could cause items to fall on top of an employee, causing injuries including head trauma or broken bones.
You can never play it too safe when it comes to your employees’ safety in the workplace. Hazards crop up pretty frequently, but many of them can be prevented through strong employer oversight and immediate rectification of any potential dangers.
