To prevent workplace injuries and control workers compensation insurance costs, business owners need a written safety program for educating workers about effective injury and illness prevention. These program outline and set procedures in place so that all employees are clear about what to do when an injury occurs.
In New York and pretty much every other state, employers have a legal obligation to provide and maintain a healthy and safe workplace for their employees. Of course, taking risks is part of running any business. Every day, small and big businesses take risks in advertising, marketing, and product development. There are some risks that are just not worth it such as risking the health and safety of employees.
Owners and managers of major corporations, small business owners and safety organizations pretty much understand that lost time from work due to an injury can really impact operations and a company’s bottom line. Every dollar counts. In order to reduce the risks and costs associated with workplace illnesses and injuries, management must address the workplace environment and how it relates to employee safety and health.
Writing a safety program can help achieve this goal. When companies develop worker safety programs, they should identify what steps need to be performed in order to realize their company’s safety goals. Clear cut procedures and policies need to be in place so that workers find them easy to follow. A written manual spells out everything employees need to know, and it ultimately can help to reduce losses that would otherwise result without the right safety procedures in place.
Written safety program rules must apply to each employee, and the policy should address different areas within the company such as emergency procedures, expected behavior from employees, appropriate clothing, and protective equipment.
Managers should review all procedures and rules fairly often so that no one forgets the company’s commitment to worker safety. OSHA rules typically provide that employers offer regular safety meetings where policies and procedures are discussed. Businesses can benefit from weekly or monthly safety meetings where managers go over a different aspect of the written safety plan with employees.
When emergencies happen, employees that understand the safety program will know what to do to help when an injury or workplace accident happen. To get started in writing a safety program, come up with a plan that best suits your workplace. Contact your workers comp agent or insurance company to find out about additional resources available to help you as you create your plan and begin using it within the workplace. Statistics show that safety programs work to reduce costs when employers and employees work together to stay on top of keeping the workplace safe and injury-free.