Blog

When did you last read your safety plan? Is it actively working for your business, or just collecting dust? A proactive safety program can deliver a valuable return on investment – but you have to use it. If it’s been a while since you reviewed yours, now is a great time to take a look.

Some organizations don’t have a full-time safety professional on staff. But safety is still crucial for these businesses. As part of the WorkSAFE Webinar series, we recently hosted a seminar titled “Other Duties as Assigned: Safety Management for the Non-Safety Professional” presented by senior safety and risk services trainer Mark Woodward.

Watch the full presentation below, or read on for the highlights.

Here are a few takeaways and best practices we covered.

Know the benefits of safety and costs of injuries

In your personal life, do you check your bank statements and save money where you can? You can approach workplace safety the same way. The avoidance of injuries, damages and fines can result in substantial cost savings for any business. When a workplace experiences incidents and injuries, it must dedicate people and resources to cleaning up the mess instead of working and being productive. Saving those resources allows the company to grow.

You should know your e-mod and understand how it affects your insurance costs. By prioritizing safety, you can make a direct impact on this piece of your premium calculation.

Investigate the root causes of incidents

When an employee gets injured in a workplace incident, your top priority is getting them the care they need. Acting quickly is the best way to manage claim costs. Many employers think their job is done after the claim closes. But how do you prevent similar injuries from happening in the future? The cause of the injury may not be as straightforward as it seems.

To discover the true cause of the injury and build a safer workplace, you need to conduct an incident investigation. Ask yourself: When did you last discuss safety? Did the employees involved follow safety protocols? Do you have the policies documented? Know your injury management plan and critically examine what happened so you can keep it from happening again.

Get started with safety basics

Workplace safety isn’t complicated! You can improve safety in your organization today by putting a few simple guidelines in place. Be clear about your company’s safety expectations. Commit to regular safety meetings and training (and document those meetings). Take time to inspect job sites, tools, buildings and vehicles. Enforce workplace safety policies including seatbelt, distracted driving, and drug-free workplace.

Top Common Safety Mistakes

1. Reporting claims too late
2. Skipping the incident investigation
3. Assuming employees know safety rules without documenting them
4. Not directing medical care when possible
5. Not planning for a timely return to work
6. No proof of safety rule enforcement
7. Lack of an organized injury management plan
8. Not communicating with injured workers to manage claims

Need some guidance on where to start? Check out our posts Foundations of a Workplace Safety Program and 8 Essential Safety Policies and How to Enforce Them.