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PUBLISHED IN CPAMERICA'S MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES  NEWSLETTER,

SUMMER 2005

      According to the most recent workplace-injury studies conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 5,500 American workers were killed on the job in 2003. Another 4.1 million were injured. Workplace injuries cost employers billions of dollars each year in lost production time, hiring and training of replacements, higher insurance premiums, lawsuits and fines. Most can be prevented if a proper safety program is in force.

      Take, for example, the case of a Birmingham, Alabama, foundry worker. He was killed in October 2004 when cables from a crane came loose and hit him. The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the accident and found that the crane's hook had no safety latches and the company had not made sure that employees wore hard hats when they were supposed to. OSHA levied a $71,000 penalty for these and other safety deficiencies.

      Perhaps you think you don't need to be as concerned about workplace injuries as companies that have heavy equipment or machinery. Think again!  A large number of employee injuries are caused by overexertion or repetitive motion. Though seemingly simple in nature, these injuries often result in long absences from work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' report regarding 2003 workplace injuries revealed that the median number of workdays missed was higher for carpal tunnel syndrome than for amputations!

      Here are seven ways you can lower the risk of workplace injuries and therefore save your company money:

      1.      Have a written safety program in effect and review it regularly. Study the legislated standards for your industry and make sure your policies comply with them. Consider bringing in a safety expert to help you develop or review your safety policies and check your workplace for potential hazards. Make sure your policies consider not only machinery and equipment but also the way people work, ergonomics and proper cleaning and maintenance of workspaces.

2.      Show that management is committed to workplace safety. Address safety issues in staff meetings, memos and company newsletters. Encourage employees to look out for each other and to bring potential problems to management's attention. Get employee feedback about concerns through questionnaires.

3.      Provide proper training and supervision. Show safety videos, conduct training sessions and arrange for health professionals to come in and talk to employees about how to avoid injuries. Make safety training a part of new-employee orientation. Remember to train your temporary contractors too.

4.      Regularly screen for alcohol and drug abuse.

5.      Reward employees when they keep the workplace safe.

6.      Learn from accidents that do occur. Immediately investigate injuries within your own company to prevent similar ones from occurring. Also read about other companies' accidents to learn from their mistakes.

7.      Make sure that your safety rules are enforced. Having a safety program in place does no good if people don't follow it.

      Implementing these strategies will help make your company a safer place to work.

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