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Getting injured is definitely not on your employees’ job descriptions, but that doesn’t mean it doesn't happen sometimes.
In fact, job-related injuries are fairly common, which is why MA requires all businesses to have workers’ comp insurance for their employees. But just because you have the insurance, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to take steps to avoid employee injuries.
For one, you care about your employees (at least we really hope you do). But on top of that, employee injuries also create a lot of hassle for your business. You could have to go through the trouble of filing a workers’ compensation claim, have to pay for the injured’s medical bills, and miss out on their contributions to the team all while still paying their salary.
And just to kick you while you’re down, you can then expect your workers’ compensation premium to skyrocket for the next few years.
It’s one of the last things you want to deal with as a business.
We’re right there with you. As a business ourselves, we don’t want our employees to ever be injured on the job – we also don’t want any accidents to increase our insurance premiums down the road. Through managing hundreds of other businesses workers’ comp policies, we’ve learned these fears tend to be universal.
So in this article, we’ll fill you in on five of the most common workplace injuries, and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Overexertion/repetition injuries
I think we’ve all overdone it at one point or another. But at work, overexertion (by lifting, carrying, pulling, or pushing something outside of our body’s limits) is very common.
But an employee simply moving the wrong way or overestimating their body’s limits can be enough to cause an injury that will keep them out of work.
Even doing a movement well within someone’s limits can cause an issue if they are doing it too much. If an employee has a microtask such as typing or working on a manufacturing line for several hours a day, they are at risk from sustaining an injury due to repetitive motion.
2. Falls
Falls can really occur anywhere in a work setting, making them one of the most common work related injuries.
Things such as wet floors, loose wires/objects on the floor, and more can cause an employee to take a tumble. Or even worse, employees who work in settings where they are elevated (such as in construction/HVAC, various trades), are at risk for falling from higher elevations and sustaining more serious injuries.
3. Slips/Trips
Slips or trips may not always involve a fall, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause injury.
As mentioned in the last section, wet and slippery floors or any obstacles on the ground can cause a slip or trip which could be serious enough to cause a pulled muscle or other injury.
4. Equipment injuries
In today’s advanced world we use a lot of equipment to facilitate our daily lives.
Depending on your industry, your employees may use some of this equipment and some of it may even be complex. If not operated correctly, employees could get injured by being struck, lacerated, or crushed by the equipment they use.
5. Auto accidents
Many people only consider on-site injuries when it comes to workplace injuries, but many workplace injuries happen out of the office, including on the roads.If your employees’ work duties include driving, they are just as likely to be in an accident as any other driver on the road.
How to prevent injuries
Your claims history is one of the greatest factors influencing workers’ comp costs. That’s why the most effective way to reduce workers’ compensation costs is to prevent injuries in the first place.
And the easiest way to reduce claims is through a thorough safety plan. Basically, you should have a formal plan in place to make sure your company is a safe work environment. But it can’t stop there. You should make sure your entire team is informed of the plan, and you should regularly revisit and revise it.
Here is what we recommend go into an effective safety plan:
Risk identification: Before you can reduce risks you must identify them. Consider the risks of your office or any out-of-office locations your employees may work at. Evaluate all of your employees’ daily operations. Inspect the equipment your employees use. Where may accidents or injuries occur?
Risk management: Once you’ve identified potential risks, you should get to work on fixing them. Of course, these fixes will vary depending on your office and industry, but may include keeping the office clean and free of obstacles, labeling dangerous equipment or areas, regularly inspecting and servicing equipment, or providing employees with safety equipment and ergonomic equipment.
Safety training: It’s important all your employees be trained on safety practices associated with their jobs. For example, if employees use equipment or lift heavy objects, you will want to train them on equipment safety and proper lifting techniques.
Review/revision: When it comes to a safety plan, you cannot have a set it and forget it mentality. Your plan should be reviewed regularly, and taken into consideration whenever you get new equipment, hire a new employee, or make any other changes to your office. You may also want to consider establishing a safety committee to keep up to date on training and revisions.
How to manage injuries after they happen
You can’t prevent all injuries, so it is also important that you know how to properly manage injuries when they do happen.
This is because in addition to claim frequency, claim length can also increase your workers’ compensation cost. Insurance companies want as few open claims as possible, so lengthy claims will negatively impact your workers’ comp cost.
That’s why you should have a plan in place to help return injured employees to work as soon as possible.
Check in on your injured employees regularly to see if there is anything you can do and to make them realize they are important. Letting them know they are a valued part of the team can go a long way in boosting their morale and motivating them to return to work sooner.
You can also establish a light duty policy, which will allow employees to return to work without having to do any duties that will aggravate their injury.
If you work with Berry Insurance, we can provide sample safety plans, return to work plans, and other safety tools to help employers manage claims before they ever become a problem.
To learn more about what we can offer to business insurance clients, read this article.
Let an experienced agent help you save money on workers’ compensation
Preventing and managing injuries is an important part of your job as a business owner.
But on top of all your other responsibilities, it can be a lot to manage. So you shouldn’t have to do it all on your own.
But did you know that if you work with a reputable business insurance agent, they can help you manage injuries as well as several other aspects of your insurance policies?
An independent insurance agency is a free resource that can really save you a lot of time, energy, and money.
To learn more about what your insurance agency can and should be doing for you, check out this article: 7 Things your Workers’ Compensation Insurance Agent Should be Doing for You.
