In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and United States Department of Labor reported that more than three million people suffered non-fatal workplace injuries or illnesses. Almost 95 percent of the incidents were injuries with just over five percent reported as illnesses. Over 75 percent of these injuries were in service-providing industries while over 65 percent of the illnesses were in service-providing professions. These statistics indicate how important workplace health and safety is in today’s workplace.
Health and Safety Dangers
There are many dangers in the workplace that can affect health and safety of employees. The hazards can be related to the type of work performed, such as chemicals or substances that are known to be dangerous to humans. They can also be related to employees themselves, such as a worker who comes to work with an infectious illness, like the flu, and passes it to other members of the staff. When the industry requires employees to work with hazardous materials or in dangerous locations, it is critical that mandated safety procedures be followed. In addition, scheduling a regular workplace training and assessment course through a provider such as Rose Training is necessary in order to keep employees safe. Not only do regular training courses provide valuable information to staff members, they can reduce the incidences of injury or illness significantly.
Cost of Job Injuries
Although the main reason that workplace safety is important is to keep an employee from being injured or becoming ill at work, there is also a cost benefit to adhering to safety regulations. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) estimates that injuries and illnesses cost employers up to $1 billion per week in direct workers’ compensation costs alone. This does not include other direct costs such as medical expenses and the cost of legal services should an employee file suit due to an illness, nor does it include indirect costs such as training employees to replace the injured staff member, implementation of additional safety measures, lost productivity, the reduction in employee morale or absenteeism that occurs as a result of an injury. Not only that, but damages to equipment or property may also occur as a result of an employee injury and this can also lead to significant costs to the employer.
Guidelines to Follow
Federal, state and local governments establish guidelines that companies must follow related to the safety of their employees. One of the best ways to prevent injury and illness in the workplace is through employee awareness of the regulations established to protect them and have strict rules about adhering to those regulations. A workplace training and assessment course is the perfect way to inform employees of the importance of protecting themselves from illness and injury. It can also encourage other employees to reinforce those rules with co-workers who ignore safety policies that can lead to injury or illness.
Implementing a workplace safety program is one of the best ways to protect employees and reduce the incidence of illness or injury. This can not only eliminate the cost of an injured employee, both directly and indirectly, but can also provide reduced rates on workers’ compensation insurance and better protect employees throughout an organization. By training staff members on various safety hazards, regulations and recommendations, a company will see an increase in morale, a reduction in absenteeism and could see a reduction in costs overall.
