"Employees are the backbone of any successful company, so it is important that employers take steps to keep them healthy and safe at work," said Kim Bittle, Regional Vice President, Travelers. "The good news is many of these injuries are avoidable, and business owners can take advantage of risk management tools that help them build effective safety strategies in the workplace."
A company can reduce its financial exposure to a workplace accident by ensuring it has workers compensation insurance in place. However, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, one-third of all businesses in Texas are non-subscribers to the workers compensation system. For small business owners, a single on-the-job accident could cripple their operations if they are not covered. An independent insurance agent can help business owners learn more about what coverage is needed for their particular business and industry.
To help businesses promote worker safety, Travelers recommends that employers take the following steps:
- Establish an integrated safety culture - Visible evidence of a commitment to safety can be shown through top management's attendance at safety meetings, their review and action on accident reports and establishing an employee-managed safety committee.
- Implement a safety management program - A comprehensive safety program should address worker security and overall safety.
- Educate and train - Avoiding injuries can be improved with proper safety orientations, regular safety coaching from an effective mentor and regular communication.
- Hire the right person for the job - Selecting skilled, safe, dependable employees is the first step in establishing an organization's safety culture.