The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2006 (latest year data) there were 4,085,400 non-fatal workplace injuries, 5,703 fatalities, and 1,183,500 days away from work due to injury. Since then, medical expenses have continued to rise, leading to an explosive growth in the human and economic costs of workplace injuries.
To help keep these costs under control, now’s the time to implement a comprehensive accident prevention and injury mitigation program by taking these 10 steps:
- Create a safety/loss control department run by an experienced and credentialed safety/loss control or contract with an independent consultant.
- Have the safety department do a detailed inspection with written results of your company’s facilities and exposures.
- Direct the safety department to review all written safety material for compliance with regulations, costs of safety equipment and facilities, and training documents and sessions.
- Support the safety department in all its activities, including mandatory access to key department heads, managers, and supervisors.
- Review all safety recommendations and make safety part of the budgeting process.
- Creating a user-friendly, non-technical, written safety program for all employees.
- Stress training and annual refreshers in safety/loss control.
- Require all job training to be on going, documented, and tested.
- Have the safety department investigate all accidents and “near-misses” and require all department heads to participate in meetings on the causes, costs, corrections, and mitigation of accidents.
- Create a safety culture throughout the company as a permanent and essential part of your organization’s success.
Following this path will lead to a safer, more efficient — and more profitable — workplace.
