Employee Injury Prevention

Preventing employee injuries in the workplace
By Dorothy Bland Employee injuries slow down workplace productivity and come with large payouts for injuries. Employees are your company's most important assets and you need them in good physical condition to carry out the daily tasks that are essential to doing business.
 

Reducing employee injuries should not only be a concern for big business. As a small business, you're required to follow federal and state laws regarding workplace injuries, and unlike large corporations, your budget may be limited when covering losses in staffing and productivity.

Having an employee injury prevention plan reminds workers of safety practices to follow and reduces the number of on-the-job incidents. Though certain industries by nature carry a greater degree of severe injuries and fatalities, office injuries are extremely common. With proper training and education you can make the office safer for everyone.

From year to year, the top list of employee injuries in the workplace remains unchanged. By focusing on the most common causes and their reasons, you can drastically reduce on the job injuries. Reduce causes of office injuries by:

1. Following OSHA regulations about workplace injury prevention.

2. Educating employees on workforce injury prevention

3. Replacing faulty equipment and redesign office space

4. Offering incentives for following work injury prevention

Know federal and state safety requirements

Most businesses are required to follow regulations created by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Know the safety practices and standards required.
Try: The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 can provide the basics of your responsibilities as an employer. As required, print out and post the English or Spanish OSHA poster in a location accessible to employees.

Tailor occupational injury prevention to your employees

Office employees have different safety hazards then those that work outdoors or in factories. Make a safety training manual that addresses their concerns and discuss common causes of office injuries.
Try: Consulting firms like WorkSmart can customize training classes for office workers. Safety Star provides printable posters to hang in the workplace to remind workers about occupational injury prevention from strains, trips and falls in the office.

Get rid of faulty wires and unreliable office equipment

Office equipment can cause shocks, fires and shortages. Inspection and proper maintenance of equipment is essential for work injury prevention.
Try: The electric equipment safety checklist from PG&E can remind workers of electrical hazards. Occupational Hazards newsletter provides tips on electric equipment safety.

Create customized workstations for each employee using ergonomics

Carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries and eye strain are often the results of poorly designed offices. Assess office injury and design. Replace items with ergonomically designed equipment for employee injury prevention.
Try: Completing the online computer ergonomics course from AllBusiness. Shop for ergonomic office furniture; Ergoware offers proper lighting and height adjustable workstations.

Reward employees for staying safe in the office

Preventing employee injuries requires constant support and encouragement from management. Give employees cash bonuses, certificates and gifts for meeting safety regulations.
Try: Remind employees to stay safe with messages on office items from Promos On-Time. Reinforce safety training and employee knowledge by obtaining safety wristbands from the National Safety Council and encourage employees to wear them in June, National Safety Month.

• Back sprains are the most common form of workplace injury. Back injury prevention programs should teach employee injury facts. Inform workers how to avoid slips and falls by teaching correct posture and using ergonomics to design safer workstations.
• Use training videos and safety manuals to supplement hands-on activities for preventing employee injury.
• Have evacuation and emergency preparedness plans in place in the event of fire, medical or weather-related emergencies.