Workers’ compensation insurance is another business expense that the company must account for, but this type of coverage is meant to benefit the business as well as its employees. Employers can also provide further protection for both themselves and their staff by implementing a workplace safety program. The program will raise awareness of hazardous situations and behaviors as well as educate personnel on proper procedures and precautions.
Here are some tips for implementing a safety program in your business:
- Evaluate the workplace– First you must take a look at your business operations, processes, equipment, and locations to determine where there is the potential for injury. Make sure to focus on the tasks of your staff as well as the space in which they complete them. You cannot work to reduce your risk until you identify where the hazards are in your business.
- Create the Safety Program– Once the areas of your business that pose a threat have been identified it is time to develop a program that will address each of those hazardous areas. The program should include things such as written rules and procedures, training events, and equipment or performance inspection if necessary.
- Appoint a Safety Manager– There should be one person in the organization who is responsible for implementing and maintaining the safety program. This individual will be responsible for all parts of the program but he should have support from management who will aid in the communication between the company and the employees.
- Make the program visible to employees– Post the rules and procedures at various workstations and common places in the business which are accessible to all employees. Posting the rules will serve as a reminder to employees but they must also be trained to handle their work with care and they must be educated on how to best protect themselves.
- Run emergency drills– Training an employee to complete each of their tasks safely is important but it is not the only training or education the employee should receive. Employees could suffer injuries as the result of an unexpected emergency such as a fire in the building and it is essential to educate your staff on proper procedures in the event of such an emergency. It would also be helpful to continue to remind employees of proper procedures by running frequent safety drills.
The goal of your safety program should be to raise awareness of hazardous situations, behaviors, and tasks while Massachusetts worker’s compensation insurance should be used to protect your staff and your business in the event of a work-related accident.
Bio: Bob Mucci is the VP of Massachusetts-based Wolpert Insurance. As a leading local insurance agency, Wolpert Insurance specializes in providing Massachusetts insurance consumers with reliable commercial trucking insurance, moving, and storage coverage, livery insurance, garage insurance and effective risk management solutions.
