Each year, Alabama employees lose significant amounts of money due to accidents in the workplace. This is especially true for companies operating in high-risk industries like construction and manufacturing. While workers’ compensation is vital to protecting your business and employees, it can be costly. 

What can you do to lower workers’ compensation costs? Here are our top five tips:

1. Provide employees with regular safety training

One of the best ways to ensure your employees are safe on the job is to educate them on safe work practices regularly. Ongoing safety training ensures new hires and seasoned employees remain aware of workplace hazards and compliance requirements. 

Here are just a few essential safety practices to ensure your employees know:

  • How to properly use equipment
  • How to report injuries and hazards
  • Emergency procedures such as evacuation routes and how to respond to incidents like fires or chemical spills

2. Develop a safety culture

Company culture can range from creative to organizational to competitive. Another is safety culture. A safety culture makes safety a core value, prioritizing the well-being of employees by including safety in every aspect of the workplace. 

Some ways to cultivate a strong safety culture include:

  • Encouraging employees to participate in safety planning and identifying and reporting hazards.
  • Providing comprehensive training tailored to specific job roles and risks
  • Recognizing and rewarding safe behaviors through incentive programs
  • Ensuring managers and supervisors model safe behaviors and hold themselves to the same standards

3. Provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE)

Employees expect their work environment to be safe. A critical way to ensure the safety of all your employees is to provide them with the PPE needed to perform their tasks safely. 

Here are a few helpful ways to effectively implement a PPE program:

  • Identify PPE requirements for each role task 
  • Ensure all PPE fits accurately and the quality meets safety standards
  • Teach employees how to properly wear, use, clean, and store their PPE
  • Ensure all employees consistently use their PPE in designated areas or tasks

4. Have regular safety inspections + ergonomic assessments

You may think heavy lifting and chemical spills are workplace incidents that cost the most in workers’ compensation. But in today’s high-tech world, sitting at a desk and engaging in hours of computer use can wreak havoc on your employees’ bodies.

Poor ergonomics in the workplace can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, such as:

  • Back and neck pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Repetitive strain injury

You can help reduce the risk of these injuries by analyzing workstations and identifying and addressing potential ergonomic risks.

5. Conduct inspections to eliminate slip, trip, and fall hazards

Did you know some of the most common workplace accidents are due to slips, trips, and falls? These things can often lead to serious injuries.  The best way to identify and eliminate potential hazards like these is to perform regular safety inspections. 

Here are a few steps your company can take to ensure effective safety inspections:

  • Identify common hazards like:
    • Cords, cables, or clutter disrupting walkways 
    • Loose or damaged flooring or carpets
    • Wet or slippery floors
  • Conduct regular safety audits by:
    • Requiring employees keep their workspaces tidy and free of obstructions
    • Scheduling routine workplace inspections to proactively identify and address risks
    • Encouraging employees to report unsafe conditions immediately
  • Always take immediate action by:
    • Cleaning up spills immediately and using signage for wet floors
    • Securing or removing any tripping hazards—loos mats or exposed wires
    • Ensuring all work areas and walkways are well-lit and free from obstructions

Don’t forget ladder safety! Improper use of ladders is a significant cause of workplace falls. 

Check out these safety practices when using ladders:

  • Encourage employees to avoid using makeshift ladders, like standing on chairs, boxes, or stacked items. 
  • Inspect ladders before use, checking for cracks, loose steps or signs of wear and tear.
  • Store ladders properly to prevent warping or damage.
  • Remove broken or defective ladders from service immediately.

For all your workers’ compensation insurance needs, contact us today!