As a responsible employer, the safety of your employees should always be first in your mind. Without your team, everything could shut down and you would be out of business. If an employee gets hurt while on the job, it can mean downtime and undue burden on your other employees. The good news is that your worker’s compensation insurance can help protect the injured party with medical bills and lost wages. The better news is that you can take steps to prevent injury by identifying and eliminating hazards.
Protect your company and your employees when you carry workers compensation insurance. At the Business Insurance Center, our experienced brokers can help you get the coverage you need. We work with several different insurance companies, which means you get the best protection at a fair rate. We also believe in educating our clients so that they can get the most from their insurance plans.
Reduce Potential Workers Compensation Claims
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one of the root causes of injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify hazards. Here are six action steps they recommend to recognizing potential hazards, so additional steps can be taken to eliminate them:
- Gather Any Existing Information on Workplace Hazards: This includes finding operating manuals for all equipment and machinery, gathering Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals used, and records of previous injuries. Remember to ask the experts as well. That is, talk to your employees. They can be a source of knowledge on existing or potential hazards.
- Conduct an Inspection for Safety Concerns: Many hazards appear because workplace processes change, equipment wears out, or maintenance is neglected. Conduct regular inspection of all operations and equipment, and take photos or videos so you can verify things were corrected. Create a checklist to help you stay on top of things.
- Identify Health Hazards (Chemical, Physical, and Ergonomic): Review SDS labels of the chemicals used in your area to discover their volatility. Pay attention to the levels of noise, elevated heat, or sources of radiation. Monitor how employees function when lifting, working above their shoulder, or even at their desk.
- Investigate Any Incidents: When a workplace incident occurs, thoroughly investigate what happened, to discover the root cause. Ask what led to the issue and how it can be prevented in the future. Develop a clear plan for conducting any investigations.
- Identify Emergency and Non-Routine Situations: Many hazards exist during emergencies and non-routine situations like maintenance. Create plans for handling these events and remember to consider the types of materials involved and the equipment used.
- Determine the Nature of Any Identified Hazards: As you gather together your information, you can assess the nature of any hazards, decide on interim control measures, and prioritize each hazard. All of this leads to developing a permanent control plan and reducing everyone’s risk of injury.
Safeguard Your Employees and Your Company with Appropriate Insurance Plans
Protect your greatest asset when you take steps to identify hazards within your enterprise. If an incident does occur, rest assured that you have things covered with a workers compensation insurance policy. The professionals at the Business Insurance Center understand what you need and what may be required in your state. We can sit down and discuss all your insurance needs and present you with a custom-tailored plan. Since the mid-1980s, we have assisted entrepreneurs, business owners, and the self-employed build their dreams. Let us help you today.
Request a quote online or call and speak with a knowledgeable and experienced broker at the Business Insurance Center. We have a 24/7 call center to serve you and an online Live Chat operator.
