Reducing workplace injuries is not just the right thing to do for the safety and well-being of employees; it also saves employers money.
For any employer looking to improve their bottom line, there is no better place to start than reducing workplace injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, 2017 saw just under 3 million injuries occur in the workplace. Each of those injuries caused pain and other negative consequences for employees, but there were also many adverse effects for employers.
The most measurable implications are lost productivity and the cost of injured employees’ healthcare. The price of workplace injuries can be steep. Companies can and should take a proactive approach to prevent workplace injuries for both the health and well-being of employees and to combat the high cost of workplace injuries.
Reducing Workplace Injuries
There are numerous reasons why a company may start to see an increase in workplace injuries. From adding new hazards when processes are automated and communication barriers to an aging workforce and using temporary and contract workers who may not receive a comprehensive round of safety training, a company will need to figure out why injuries occur in their particular workplace.
Once a company has identified the factors contributing to workplace injuries, the next step is implementing prevention and treatment programs to address those factors to ensure new hires can meet a job’s requirements. The more proactive the approach, the better, and preventative efforts may include actions like:
- New hire work conditioning
- Early intervention
- Self-care programs
- Pre-shift warm-up exercises
- First aid follow-ups
- Exercise conditioning programs
- Assessing work tasks and safety practices before, during, and after the hiring process
- Creating an ergonomics stretching program that addresses repetitive motion injuries before they require medical treatment
It’s a win-win for employees and employers who work together to prevent workplace injuries. Employees avoid the pain and other issues that accompany workplace injuries, and employers save money and reduce lost production time.
Safe Keeper supplies fall protection products and accessories that play an integral role in reducing fall injuries in the workplace. Our fall protection products save lives from our harnesses and self-retractable lifelines to our confined space entry equipment and ladder systems.
