how to avoid the most common workplace injuries
benchmark commercial insurance services
We support your industry's best decision makers!
Between 2015 and 2019, workplace injuries kept workers out of work for more than?17 million days?when looking at 1.5 million workers’ compensation claims. That’s right—we said 17 million days, according to?The Travelers Injury Impact Report. Workplace injuries are an employer’s biggest nightmare for a variety of reasons.
Let’s chat about how to avoid the most common workplace injuries and what they are.
what are the most common workplace injuries?
The most common workplace injuries across all employees and industries were ranked as follows:
Moreover, for first-year employees, cuts, punctures, and being caught in or between hazards also accounted for a significant portion of injuries.
how to avoid workplace injuries
At benchmark, we bring these statistics to light to provide businesses with an understanding of what is happening (or can happen) in their workplaces.?
We’d like to help your business avoid workplace injuries by discussing four tips on how to avoid them. Check them out below.
prioritize a safety-first culture
In your business, it’s important that your employees know safety is a priority. Implementing a solid safety program will look different for each industry; however, your safety program will likely include safety meetings, tests, the proper safety equipment and tools necessary to complete work, and of course, safety training.
When you implement a safety program, it should be your number one priority to do everything in your power to prevent employees from getting injured or sick. (Yes, this includes making sure all of your carpets have non-slip grip or are secured to the floor to prevent slips!)
领英推荐
stabilize your employee population
Accidents happen more frequently when businesses don’t have adequate staffing levels. One way that you can avoid injuries in the workplace is by ensuring you have a stable employee population.
Why? Overworked employees are more likely to suffer from exhaustion, which can lead to cutting corners to make ends meet. A solution could be hiring part-time or even seasonal staff to help prevent these common workplace injuries.
implement a safety-incentive program
Most employees just want to know that they’re valued and to be recognized for their efforts. A great way to do so, while also increasing workplace safety, is by implementing a safety-incentive program.
In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more commonly known as OSHA, recommends?safety-incentive programs, which reward “workers for reporting near-misses or hazards.”
According to OSHA, effective safety-incentive programs can “provide positive reinforcement for reporting illnesses and injuries,” making the workplace a safer environment altogether.
invest in insurance
Insurance is one of the most important things a business owner can invest in to keep their business safe. The types of insurance your specific business might need will vary depending on your industry, state, and business itself. However, some common types of insurance include:
Speak with a professional—like?our team?at benchmark commercial insurance—to learn what types of insurance you need to keep your business protected. Read on for?your complete guide on workers’ compensation in the hybrid workforce.