Accident Prevention Keeps Workers Safe and Costs Down

accident preventionLet’s begin with a pop quiz: When it comes to accident prevention, are you proactive or reactionary? Save your answer for the end of this article, because in it you will learn at least four key factors that will reveal if you are proactive or reactionary.

Studies indicate that only 2% of all accidents are unpreventable! That means you, your supervisors and your employees have some preventative control over 98% of all accidents! Imagine the effect on your workers’ comp rates if you reduce injuries by 98%!

All accidents are the result of either risky behavior and/or hazardous conditions. In one specific study, 75,000 accidents were analyzed and it was found that 66,000 (88%) were caused by unsafe acts. An additional 7,500 (10%) were cased by unsafe conditions. By reducing unsafe acts and unsafe conditions, injuries could be reduced dramatically.

Let’s consider 4 key factors in reducing unsafe acts and conditions:

1. Proper Training

CBR’s own statistics reveal that, since 1998, 25% of all injuries have occurred to workers on the job for less than 90 days. That indicates a probable lack of training. When a new employee is hired, time should be spent orienting the new employee to the equipment and specific processes that he/she will be required to perform, even if the employee has previous experience. Company policies regarding things such as machine guarding, personal protective equipment and what to do in case of an injury should be included in the orientation.

If employees are hired to do something they have never done before, it is imperative that more extensive training be conducted. Never assume that a worker knows how to use a piece of equipment or perform a given task. Evaluate the employee’s knowledge and skill before allowing them to begin work.

In addition, OSHA requires formal training and certification as a “competent person” in certain things such as the operation of forklifts and other equipment.

2. Proper Equipment

To require employees to work without proper equipment is to expect that injury will occur. Proper tools, proper clothing and proper safety equipment should be required of every employee in your company. It is particularly critical that adequate fall protection is provided in every situation when employees are working more than 6 feet off the ground.

3. Proper Supervision

Those directly responsible for overseeing work processes (supervisors, foremen, crew leaders, etc) are the most important employees in your company when it comes to safety. They, above all, should be properly trained and given the authority to make their worksites as safe as possible. Ironically, CBR’s statistics reveal that supervisors, foremen and crew leaders are often injured themselves. If measures are not taken for their own safety, how safe do you think it is for the workers being supervised?

Proper supervision includes, but is not limited to, conducting routine safety meetings, training workers how to perform their job safely, modifying tasks so that the risk of injury is reduced or eliminated, taking disciplinary action when appropriate and having the authority to shut down the work in progress if there is imminent danger to employees.

4. Proper Correction

Authority must be granted to all appropriate owners, managers and supervisory personnel to take action when unsafe acts or conditions are present. A disciplinary action plan should be established and enforced so that unsafe acts are not allowed to continue. CBR has produced a generic Disciplinary Action Plan and will customize it to fit the needs of your company. (Contact CBR at 602-200-8500 x2012 to ask about a Disciplinary Action Plan.)

Now back to our pop quiz. You are proactive if:

  • Your company conducts thorough orientation and training of all new employees.
  • Your company provides and/or requires employees to use proper equipment at all times.
  • Your company’s supervisors, foremen, crew leaders, etc are thoroughly trained and have the authority to make their jobsites as safe as possible.
  • Your company strictly enforces a Disciplinary Action Plan.

How did you score? Is it truly possible to reduce injuries by 98%? Perhaps that is a bit ambitious until we can eliminate human lack of common sense! However, consider the effect on workers’ health if we reduce injures by 50% (a legitimate goal). Contact CBR or request a proposal for assistance in developing, implementing or improving your safety program.