Workplace Injury and Illness

Posted April 17, 2018 - Revised April 17, 2018

Here Are the Cost Savings for Implementing a Plan to Reduce Workplace Injury and Illness.  An injury and illness prevention plan is a system designed to help employers locate and correct hazards in the workplace before employees are injured.

Many workplaces have adopted such plans, and evidence shows they lead to big decreases in workplace accidents. These plans also help change workplace culture, leading to greater productivity and quality, decreased turnover, decreased costs and greater worker satisfaction.

Most effective injury and illness elimination programs incorporate similar core principles: All hazards in the workplace must be located, and there should be a plan to both prevent and control those hazards. Active participation, from leadership to front-line employees, is crucial to making certain all hazards are discovered and addressed. Finally, employees have to be trained on how the program functions, and the program must be regularly examined to figure out if changes have to be made.

Every company is different with regards to injury and illness prevention programs and one size doesn't fit all. Organizations should scale and adjust their plan to meet the requirements of their company based on its size, industry or type of operations.

What are the costs associated with workplace injuries?

While the main goal of an injury and illness prevention program should be to keep employees healthy, the secondary objective is to reduce the costs associated with on-the-job injuries.

Furthermore, injury and illness prevention plans can help companies steer clear of the considerable costs and business interruptions that come with on-the-job injuries, illnesses and deaths. Organizations bear a range of costs when a worker is injured or ill. The expenditures of budget or time associated with injuries and illnesses are commonly called indirect costs and may include: wages paid to injured employees for absences not protected by workers' compensation, wage costs associated with time lost to stoppages, administrative time spent addressing injuries, worker training and replacement costs, lost productivity associated with new worker learning curves, accommodations for injured workers and costs to replace damaged property.

Do injury and illness prevention programs have an effect on the bottom line?

Several research studies have analyzed the performance of injury and illness prevention programs at both the facility and corporate levels and shown such programs work well in changing workplace culture; bringing about reductions in injuries, illnesses and deaths; reducing costs; strengthening morale and communication; improving brand image; and improving operations.

Research also spotlights the essential qualities of effective programs, including management commitment, effective worker participation, incorporation of health and safety with company planning and continual program assessment. Employee participation, an important part of any good injury and illness prevention program, also contributes to the bottom line. When employees asked for safety contributions see some of their suggestions being put into practice, they are more likely to be satisfied and productive. Engaging staff members in conversation on safety and health can result in better relationships and better overall communication, along with decreased injury rates. Enhanced worker morale and satisfaction means greater loyalty, reduced absenteeism and greater productivity.

At Ambassador, we support all of the employee safety and wellness programs of our clients. If your company is currently looking for a staffing partner that is invested in the well-being of all workers, please contact a full-service staffing firm today.