“Hello 911? Yes, we have a woman here at our office who has suffered a severe accident. We have her wound wrapped but she’s bleeding quite a bit and we can’t get it under control. What should we do?”
— the call that no HR rep or employer wants to make.
In the workplace, injuries and illness can be scary, costly and affect job productivity negatively. Preventative and on-site precautions ensure employees’ safety and workplace morale. It feels good to be taken care of and know that your boss has your health in mind! Not only do safety and health measures help prevent illness and injury, but they increase happiness and satisfaction levels among employees. Here are seven simple methods that can make all the difference in increasing the safety in the environment of your workspace.
#1: Invest in Preventive Care
Regarding employees, medical history varies significantly from person to person. Often on-site injuries are affected by physical limitations of which employees are unaware. At Jet Dental, we can help your employees’ dental health by bringing the dentist to your workplace. We are a convenient option because we are in-network for every national primary insurance carrier and we can work with your schedule to show up at your office and take care of everyone’s dentist appointment at once. In our research, we have found a 36% decrease in visits to the emergency room after consistent dental visits. We are the nation’s highest-rated on-site dental service and will leave your staff feeling more confident and motivated. We’d love to chat! We highly recommend other on-site health companies as well for preventing employee accidents and health tragedies.
#2: Keep a Clean and Organized Workspace
Keep a consistent cleaning schedule that keeps the work environment free of debris. Cleanliness will reduce allergies and the chance of employees becoming sick, reducing lost work days. Picking up loose trash and keeping the walkways clear in a shared space can change the feel of a workspace. A clean environment is essential for the physical and mental health of employees. Using proper storage, going paperless, dusting, decluttering, and keeping floors and surfaces clean are a few actions that can help maintain a clean workspace.
#3: Make a Plan for Safety and Wellness
Wellness plans are a practical way to help employees’ mental and physical health. Preventative measures are necessary to ensure overall better health and safety of individuals, as well as higher job retention. Ensure all employees review your safety and healthcare measures to prepare for emergencies. Reminding your employees to report dangerous practices will protect you against potentially hazardous situations. Make sure that your safety and wellness plan includes a plan of procedure for employees to return to work after injuries. The plan may consist of remote work and healthcare for the injured employee. Creating a plan before disaster strikes will protect your business legally from any potential emergency.
#4: Educate Staff about Injury Prevention in the Workplace
Establish a culture among staff and other employees that respects and withholds safety standards in the workplace. As often as possible, hold training to review and reinforce the workplace safety guidelines. This training should include traditional safety practices and programs that your business offers. The wellness program you create can go beyond safety and spill into topics such as self-care, healthy life habits, and work-life balance. Holding additional training on body mechanics can help employees avoid injuries when engaging in more physically demanding jobs.
#5: Keep a Healthy Staff Level
Often, employees are overworked from working more hours than expected when more help is needed. If employees work overtime too often, it can lead to many problems in the workplace, including; job shortcuts, excessive sick days, less efficient work, exhaustion among employees, and possible on-site emergencies. Overworked staff members tend to experience higher stress levels, which can lead to various health problems. Keeping a healthy staff level will help prevent your employees from getting too exhausted and burnt out mentally and physically. Hiring a seasonal staff can help with busier times of the season and take some of the strain off of the other employees.
#6: Safe Company Vehicles
According to The Occupational Safety and Health Act findings, workplace-driving accidents cost employers an average of $60 billion annually. Performing consistent inspections of company vehicles and keeping up to date with oil changes and repairs will prevent many workplace-driving incidents. Any company vehicles that are problematic or in questionable condition should not be driven. Instruct employees on how to manage the situation along with who to contact in case of a breakdown or car accident in a company vehicle. After accidents, repair company vehicles as soon as possible.
#7: Know Your Workplace
Every workplace has its unique safety concerns. Research the vulnerabilities of your field to be aware of possible accidents or injuries. Find or create a plan of action to prevent these common mishaps from happening in your workplace. Requiring mandatory breaks no matter the job is a great way to show your employees that you care and can reduce the risk of repeated injuries.
Happy employees equate to a happy and successful business! Help your employees stay healthy and happy with these seven simple methods to preventing workplace injuries. Customize the wellness program to your workplace and the needs of your staff. Be open and willing to accept employee feedback on how to increase safety. After receiving on-site care and being educated on preventative measures, employees can also return home and implement some of the safety practices in home life.
