• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
 
CHOOSE BROADSPIRE

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login

Mobile Menu

Choose Broadspire

CHOOSE BROADSPIREBroadspire Delivers Meaningful Results to Our Clients and Their Claimants
  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Get Started
    • Newcomers Class for WC Professionals
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Free Training Center Account
    • Return to Work Resources
    • WC Claims Mgmt. Resources
    • Insurance Advisor Resources
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login
  • Search
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
You are here: Home / Risk Management / Tips for Creating a Safe Work Environment

Tips for Creating a Safe Work Environment

November 3, 2011 By //  by Erin Palmer 1 Comment

If you ask most employers whether or not they work toward maintaining a safe work environment, the answer will likely be, “yes.” And statistics show that over the past several years, employers are doing a better job at keeping workers safe.

 

In fact, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of nonfatal, work related injuries and illnesses in 2010 totaled around three million.  This continues a downward trend from 4.3 million in 2003*. Cases that involved lost workdays also fell from 2003 yet still exceeded 900,000, a significant loss of productivity.

 

 

It is clear that creating a safe work environment pays off , so it should be a top priority for every employer. Not only can a culture of safety lead to reduced injuries and workers compensation claims; but it can improve morale and increase productivity, as well. With a safe work environment, everybody wins, but it is up to management to create the framework and maintain a culture of safety.

 

 

A safe work environment can happen when you follow certain best practices that work, starting with assessing the workplace.

 

 

Assessing the Workplace for Safety

A safe work environment starts at the top. So the first step in assessment is to determine how management views safety. Questions, which may vary according to business size and industry, might include the list below.

 

  • Does management clearly communicate its belief and safety expectations to employees?
  • Is safety as important as production, sales, quality, technology and equipment?
  • Are safety performance objectives and guidelines established?
  • What are the rewards or consequences regarding these guidelines?
  • Who is responsible for safety measures and how is ownership communicated throughout the organization?

 

 

A fully engaged management team is the foundation for creating a safe work environment. Next, it is time to eliminate hazards.

 

 

Increase Safety by First Focusing on the Basics  

To perform the jobs, workers need to move, see, hear and breathe without risking injury or illness. During the work environment assessment, check each area for cleanliness, proper lighting and obstruction-free pathways. Look for leaking pipes, and cracked walls, floors and ceilings. Determine whether airborne chemicals, exhaust or smoke are entering the workspace. Identify the steps required to mitigate any hazards, and assign tasks to appropriate departments.

 

 

The Benefits of Job Planning to Increase Safety

Properly planning a job means fewer safety incidents. When expectations, time schedules, and equipment lists are clearly communicated, each team member knows what is required to complete a project safely and on time. Every job planning exercise should include identifying potential safety hazards, so they can be avoided. Remember that “rush” jobs often lead to worker shortcuts, lack of or improper use of safety equipment, and accidents and injuries.

 

 

Look Back to Improve Future Workplace Safety Performance

During an assessment, it is important to gather data for review. Many organizations seeking to improve workplace safety assign personnel to observe projects and tasks to identify safety hazards – both planned-for and unexpected. Examples of hazards might include

  • Missing or inoperable safety equipment.
  • Damaged tools or machinery.
  • Workers failing to follow safety procedures.
  • Poor maintenance practices.

 

Review the data with a goal of identifying problems, needed repairs, equipment upgrades and training opportunities; then develop an improvement plan for each area.

 

 

Aim for Continuous Safety Improvement

To continue the downward trend of workplace injuries and illnesses and control workers compensation claims, employers must make workplace safety an integral part of an organization’s culture. Here are a few tips for developing a safety culture.

 

 

Create awareness by putting safety front and center, to ensure everyone knows its importance to the organization. Hold meetings, hang signs and banners, place stickers on equipment and create contests. Include safety tips in company messages, newsletters, videos and other means of communication.

 

 

Take a team approach by involving employees and promoting a sense of shared responsibility. Solicit each employee’s help and ideas. Make sure managers are as well versed in safety as they are in production, sales and quality.

 

Be proactive: When hiring, evaluate a candidate’s safety awareness. Create a workforce that is familiar and comfortable with safety procedures.

Offer training: Whether employees are new or long-term, each should undergo safety training. Ongoing refresher training is also necessary to improve performance and maintain awareness.

Incentivize employees: Rewarding employees for safety, as well as for productivity, demonstrates a real commitment to workplace safety.

Put it in writing: Regularly update all employee manuals and safety for policy changes, new equipment, procedure revisions and regulations.

Be patient: Creating a safety culture takes time and continued effort. It may be a few years before your organization’s new safety-oriented culture takes hold. But the results will be worth it! (WCxKit)

 

 

A Safe Work Environment Works for Everyone

Reducing workplace illness and injuries makes good business sense. Increasing productivity and reducing resources spent on workers compensation claims means a stronger bottom line no matter what the business.

 

Even more important is the satisfaction and quality of life that employees can enjoy when safety becomes part of your organizational culture. Performing their jobs safely, and knowing their employer cares enough about them to take it seriously, can really boost morale. When every employee leaves work as healthy as when they arrived, then management has achieved an important goal.

 

 

This post was provided by Erin Palmer on behalf of Villanova University’s online human resources programs. Villanova offers a Masters degree in HR, as well as HR training certificate programs. Erin can be reached on Twitter @Erin_E_Palmer.

 

 

Our WORKERS COMP BOOK:  www.WCManual.com

 

WORK COMP CALCULATOR:  www.LowerWC.com/calculator.php

MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR:  www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php

WC GROUP:   www.linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=1922050/

SUBSCRIBE:  Workers Comp Resource Center Newsletter

 

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.

 

©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact

 

Filed Under: Risk Management, Safety and Loss Control Tagged With: Employee Safety, Safety Issues

Related Articles

Implement These Safety Training Guidelines

Implement These Safety Training Guidelines

CDC Acknowledges Airborne Transmission: Implications For Employers

CDC Acknowledges Airborne Transmission: Implications For Employers

Implementing Safety Training Guidelines in The Workplace

Implementing Safety Training Guidelines in The Workplace

Is Your COVID-19 Messaging Getting Through to Your Employees?

Is Your COVID-19 Messaging Getting Through to Your Employees?

COVID-19 Brief From WorkSTEPS

COVID-19 Brief From WorkSTEPS

The Power of Making Connections In Your Organization

The Power of Making Connections In Your Organization

Reduce Work Comp Costs Through a Safety Professional

Reduce Work Comp Costs Through a Safety Professional

Safety in the Trucking Industry

Safety in the Trucking Industry

Reducing Work Comp Costs in Manufacturing

Reducing Work Comp Costs in Manufacturing

Reduce Work Comp Costs Through a Safety Professional

Reduce Work Comp Costs Through a Safety Professional

A Risk Based Approach to Business – Taking a Practical Approach to Business Success

A Risk Based Approach to Business – Taking a Practical Approach to Business Success

What To Do If You Have An OSHA Inspection

What To Do If You Have An OSHA Inspection

Free Download

The 5 Cs For Taking A Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Free Download

4-Step Sequence For Effective Employee Screening, Hiring, & Placement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Previous Post: « 5 Reasons Field Nurse Case Managers are Worth It
Next Post: Avoiding Slip and Fall Accidents On Wet Floors is Basic Loss Control Strategy »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leviticus Bennett

    October 12, 2019 at 6:19 pm

    Thank you so very much for your tips on creating a safe work environment. I’d imagine that risk identification is a major part of safety. If you know where danger comes from, you can work to curb it.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

The 5 Cs For Taking A Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

FREE DOWNLOAD

4-Step Sequence For Effective Employee Screening, Hiring, & Placement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

Broadspire

Workers’ Comp 3rd-Party Administrator
 

Catastrophic Care Management, Complex Care, and Specialty Networks
 

Ametros

Post-Settlement Administration
 

Medcor

Injury Triage, Onsite Clinics

Read Our Award-Winning Blog

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 2500 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs in a Union Environment
  • Selecting the Right Service Providers to Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs
  • 3 Techniques To Gain Workers’ Comp Management Commitment
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2021 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice