Small Business owners are responsible for preventing injuries and mishaps when having people in their establishment. No matter your industry, employee injury is a serious concern. A simple slip-and-fall can have significant repercussions for your business.
The Steps Small Business Owners Can Take
Fortunately, preventing injuries in a small business is possible with careful planning and dedication to safety.
Take Care of Common Areas
You likely have strict cleaning rules for the factory floor or customer-facing areas, but accidents can also happen in the employee break room. Creating guidelines for a neat and spill-free common area, such as requiring beverage lids, can reduce the risk of mishaps.
Enforce Safety Rules
Small business owner injury prevention responsibilities extend beyond posting a list in the breakroom. You need a reinforcement system with incentives and disciplinary measures for the best results. One great idea is rewarding individuals with perfect safety records. Another good strategy is creating a formal disciplinary system, so employees understand the consequences of infractions.
Perform Regular Equipment Maintenance
To reduce costs and improve safety, you should regularly inspect tools and equipment. Most machines require regular maintenance, such as cleaning, lubrication, and parts replacement. Equipment in poor condition may break during use, causing damage to other machines, products, and nearby employees. Inspections ensure you address repairs before injuries happen.
Get Workers Compensation Coverage
Unfortunately, some things fall outside business owners’ control, and accidents may happen despite immense efforts to avoid them. If this occurs, you need workers’ compensation. This coverage provides several essential benefits:
- Pays wages lost due to injury
- Offers disability benefits
- Covers ongoing care
- Pays for medical treatment
- Covers funeral costs
A good policy ensures you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket and provides the resources your employees need to recover and care for their families.
Avoid Overworking Employees
Burnout isn’t just bad for employees’ mental health — it can be downright dangerous. Tired workers may be careless through no fault, increasing the likelihood of accidents. To avoid burnout, implement the following:
- Strict limits on overtime hours
- Increased hiring efforts as necessary
- Ample paid time off
Provide Personal Protective Equipment
Many jobs require PPE to prevent short- and long-term health problems. Make sure workers have access to high-quality PPE appropriate for their tasks. Additionally, you should regularly inspect this equipment and replace worn or damaged items. Though some PPE is expensive, investment in proper safety gear means a lower financial and human cost in the long run.
Create Formal Response to Workplace Violence
Sometimes the cause of injury isn’t the workplace or the job but people. A disgruntled employee, vengeful ex-spouse, or fanatical terrorist can cause untold harm in minutes. A formal procedure to contact authorities and minimize casualties can make a huge difference should the unthinkable ever happen at your small business.
About Rodrian Insurance
Rodrian Insurance specializes in giving you insurance solutions that perfectly match your business and personal life. We provide insurance options that offer excellent coverage while remaining within your budget, based on a thorough understanding and assessment of your needs, circumstances, and financial capability. Find out more about how Rodrian Insurance can fulfill your insurance needs. Call or text us at (262) 781-4750 or email us at info@rodrian.com.
