Safety Tip: Lost Time Injuries

Your workers’ compensation premiums will increase when you have employees who lose time from work because of a work-related injury or illness. Getting injured on the job negatively affects both the employee and the company. Having employees who are unable to physically complete their work responsibilities due to injuries can be problematic for your company. It negatively affects your operation, may hinder meeting deadlines; affects your company’s finances and certainly, it’s overall success — Not to mention the negative impact it has on other employees who see an injured fellow co-worker. Any company who employs individuals must have workers’ compensation insurance – It’s the law. And just like automobile insurance premiums, your workers’ compensation premiums are based on your “experience”, and the number of injuries reported to the WC insurance company. The key here is to avoid injuries from occurring in the first place.

Lost Time Injury: A work related injury or illness which causes the employee to lose time from work.

Show your employees that you have a safe working environment; increase motivation and loyalty. Take the time to evaluate the work environment and ensure that all safety measures are intact. Employees who feel safe in their work environment are more likely to stay motivated and loyal to the company. Knowing that their safety is valued can make them more willing to contribute to the company’s success.

Avoid any type of stress claim as they can result in litigation and costly attorney fees. Not all injuries or illnesses on the job are physical. Work-related stress can hinder an employee’s emotional and mental health as well. Therefore, it’s important to establish certain measures to prevent employees from feeling stressed at work. Whether there is a conflict between employees or someone stressing out about their work responsibilities, it is important to try and reduce work-related stress as much as possible. Avoid legal liabilities and claims made against the company through clear and concise communication and good employee relations. Ensure that your employees are aware of their surroundings, are safety conscious, and “on your team” to make your working environment safe and friendly.

Have a safety policy – IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Program) should be shared with all employees. Reduce the number of injuries at work by first making sure that you have a sound “Safety Policy” included in your Employee Handbook. Make sure all of your employees know of your IIPP (Injury Illness & Prevention program) by discussing it regularly each month during your safety meetings. By informing your employees about ways to reduce injuries and illness at the workplace, you can avoid experiencing a financial burden or a lost time injury. Bring awareness to the workplace through education and training and evaluate hazardous working conditions.

Conduct a safety committee meeting monthly to review injuries and illnesses; discuss “near misses” and how to prevent further incidents. Safety meetings can help bring awareness to everyone about what’s occurring in the workplace. Through open communication, workers and management can discuss certain strategies to implement to help reduce illnesses and injuries at work.

Contact us at (818) 845-5584 or email us at info@executivehrconsulting.com to discuss what steps you can take to avoid injuries or illnesses in the workplace.