Reducing risks of workplace injuries

While workers’ compensation doesn’t offer the traditional discounts you may get on other insurance policies, your provider can still help lower your premiums if you proactively work to reduce risk. By proving that you run a safe workplace and take appropriate measures to keep employees free of workplace injuries, you’ll typically qualify for more manageable insurance rates.

Hire safety professionals
Inviting an industrial hygienist to your worksite could help uncover ways to reduce or eliminate potential hazards for workplace injuries by looking at your previous claims and observing employee behavior. You can request that the state send inspectors to regularly examine your facilities for such potential injury hazards as poor lighting or small leaks, both of which you can fix quickly and inexpensively.

Practice good ergonomics
You don’t need to operate heavy machinery or work above ground to suffer a workplace injury. Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or neck strains are just as common. Make sure you provide fully adjustable chairs and computer monitors for desk employees and utilize proper shelving for warehouse and manufacturing plant employees to minimize bending.

Develop a safety committee
Ask employees to volunteer for a safety committee that is responsible for new safety initiatives. The committee should keep an eye out for safety hazards and make sure each work area provides easily accessible protective gear. Don’t pass all the responsibility to the committee, though. Stay involved so you know what projects and efforts are being pushed forward.

Provide road safety training
If your employees use company vehicles for business purposes, have a driving instructor review road safety rules with all potential operators.

Display safety collateral
Place safety manuals and informative posters in all common areas as a constant reminder to employees to always practice workplace safety.

React quickly to incidents
Immediately record all accident details and set forth immediate guidelines to prevent this from reoccurring. Never try to hide an accident! Since workers’ compensation is no-fault, a single claim should not affect your premiums. More important, the consequences for not reporting can be costly.