In the United States, it’s estimated that someone is injured in the workplace every seven seconds. That translates to 12,600 injuries at work every day and 4.6 million every year. Those numbers should speak to entrepreneurs in Wisconsin who are looking to prevent and properly handle workplace injuries.
What workplace injuries do
Workplace injuries bring with them an entire cascade of consequences. For business owners, one of the primary goals is productivity. When an employee is injured, the productivity that the business owner was anticipating from them is thrown into jeopardy.
The negativity is also felt by the injured employee who may be resentful toward the company for their injury. This resentment can spread to other employees if the situation is not handled properly from the beginning.
Finally, insurance rates could go up, which will have a negative impact on the company’s budget. There’s truly nothing positive about an employee being injured in the workplace.
Preventing workplace injuries
For a business owner, writing out and documenting official safety procedures is just as important as the business plan itself. Not only can taking this step help reduce the likelihood of an injured employee winning a suit against the company, but it can help employees know what safety measures they are expected to take.
No matter how well-written a safety policy is, there will still be things that could result in a potential injury. That’s why it is so vital that a business owner regularly walks around their place of business to take note of potential hazards and vulnerabilities. Maintaining a clean and organized workplace greatly reduces the risk of injury.
Business owners may want to have a relationship with an attorney who is familiar with employment law and workplace safety. This attorney may help ensure that their clients have proper policies in place and can be legally represented in the unfortunate case of a workplace injury.
