Workplace injuries can have huge impacts on a business. The cost is high the lost productivity, medical bills, compensation paperwork, and reduced morale. The most effective way to avoid the costs is by preventing an injury. Follow the five tips below to avert damage and safeguard your workforce.
1. Provide Protective Equipment
To ensure workers do not get injured at work, the personal injury law firm Donaldson & Weston suggests that employers provide them with essential protective equipment. Among the best methods to avoid personal injuries at the workplace is wearing the proper footwear. The right footwear can help prevent tripping, slipping, or injuring your toes. Business owners can avoid slip and fall injuries by asking their employees to wear appropriate footwear, such as closed-toe or rigid shoes, non-slip sneakers, and shoes with adequate ankle support.
2. Educate Employees on Safety at the Workplace
You can be held liable as a business owner if your employee gets injured on the job. To protect you and your business, it’s essential to take measures to avert workplace accidents. Among the most effective steps is to educate your employees on workplace well-being, which can be effected through:
- Safety manuals
- Safety training sessions and seminars
- Posting warnings and signs in the workplace
By implementing these measures, business owners help to build a safe work atmosphere for employees and minimize the risk of lawsuits for workplace injuries.
3. Have a Safety and Health Guide
Also, every workplace should possess a safety and health guide. Besides having the legal procedures to be followed to guarantee workers’ safety, the safety and health guide should have clear instructions for your particular workplace. While it’s essential to write the manual, it is equally important that employees read and understand the manual. Therefore, you should offer in-person safety and health training to complement the guide content.
4. Implement all Relevant Safety Regulations
Every business is required to implement applicable safety regulations. The regulations protect customers, employees, and the public from injuries. When employees follow these regulations, they avoid injuries and accidents from happening. Some essential safety regulations for businesses include:
- Building codes
- Fire codes
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards
By adhering to the regulations, business owners create a safe environment for their customers and employees and evade a personal injury lawsuit.
5. Maintain an Orderly Workplace
Inadequate housekeeping can lead to serious safety and health hazards. Your office layout should have enough footpath markings, be debris-free, and have stations for clearing spills.
There should also be regular equipment maintenance to improve safety and reduce costs. Many machines need frequent maintenance, such as parts replacement, lubrication, and cleaning. Equipment in poor working condition may malfunction during use, damaging other devices, nearby employees, or products. Frequent inspections ensure that repairs are done before an injury happens.
Final Word
While it’s advisable to observe all the measures above, you should also have liability insurance. This is coverage to protect you if an employee or a customer sues your company for damages. Liability insurance is vital if your business is high-risk, such as a construction company or a restaurant. If someone sues you for injuries obtained at your business premises, contact a personal injury lawyer for advice and direction.
