If not, you should.
As one of the top Dade County temporary staffing agencies, ensuring workers – whether full-time or temporary – have a safe place to work is important for any business, large or small. Otherwise, it could cost you in the form of increased workers’ compensation expenses and employee leave due to injury.
In fact, the impact of a workplace injury or illness can be devastating on a business. For instance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported in 2009 that about 3.3 million serious work-related injuries and 4,300 fatalities occurred while on the job. And in 2008, the direct cost of the most serious injuries and illnesses cost more than $53 billion in workers’ compensation costs.
In addition, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), in 2011, workers’ comp payers have been funding temporary disability benefits for longer primarily because of the poor economic conditions.
But despite what you might think, implementing a worker safety program doesn’t have to be pricey. To help get you started, here are four different features your safety program should have:
1. Get management and employees on board.
Your managers and company leaders should set the example for following safety guidelines. They should also have the authority to reprimand those that aren’t following the rules. Also, get employees to buy-in to the program by soliciting feedback and ideas from them. They’ll be more likely to follow and own the rules if they helped to create them.
2. Identify problem areas.
Are there certain pieces of equipment or materials that are potential hazards? If so, then it’s important to identify these hazards and also document what you’ve done to prevent accidents from occurring because of them.
3. Train your team.
Provide management and employees with the information and the training they need to understand what the potential hazards are and how to deal with them.
4. Assess the program regularly.
Your work isn’t complete once the actual program is implemented. You should commit to assessing it on a regular basis to ensure the program is as effective as possible. Also, if you purchase new equipment or are working with a new, potentially hazardous material, be sure employees are made aware of it.
In addition to the steps above, talk with your insurance carrier about implementing a safety program. Also, get a copy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) handbook documents to make sure you are compliant with their safety requirements. While it will certainly take some time and energy to implement an effective a safety program, it should actually save you money in the long run.
And if you need temporary workers who can follow your safety rules, give Future Force a call. As one of the top temporary staffing agencies in Dade County, our database contains more than 8,000 qualified candidates for manufacturing, distribution, and administrative positions. So we can give you fast access to skilled, dependable people. Contact us today to learn more.