Workplace accidents are a very real threat to businesses. Even in establishments that have safety protocols, it is likely that accidents will occur.
Injuries and illness often are liabilities for companies. When employees get hurt, your workers' compensation business insurance can often foot the bill.
For third-party accidents and customer-related accidents, business liability insurance covers the losses. While you may have insurance to protect you when incidents occur, it is often best to prevent them as a first step.
Understand the Risks
Workplace accidents occur often. The most significant are workplace deaths. In 2014, there were 13 every day in the U.S., according to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The most common types of accidents include falls, electrocution, object strikes and other accidents. A walk around your worksite can often show you where risks are. What can you do, then, to reduce these risks? It may be easier and even affordable to find out.
Minimizing Accident Risks Is Possible
There are numerous ways to reduce the risk of accidents within your business. These tips can help your business get started:
- Create a safety team within your company. It should include employees and management. You can even hire a safety training professional to offer guidance on improving safety.
- Stick to the rules. Make sure employees follow all OSHA guidelines and other rules for safe equipment use and fall protection.
- Keep managers on top of safety issues as a priority. Lack of safety protocols occurs because of limited time to focus on management of them. Meeting quotas can interfere with an employee’s ability to maintain safe standards.
- Work with a business insurance agent to inspect the property for risks. Many times, your insurer can offer insight you don’t see yourself.
- Consistently look for new ways to improve safety. Make it a focus of your business. Most business insurance claims are significant. The claims can result in thousands of dollars in losses.
Business insurance provides support for when accidents do occur. That should not mean company employees and management are lax on minimizing risks. Bringing in a third-party professional to provide safety guidelines and insight can be an excellent first step. This is especially important for companies that already have a high number of business insurance claims for safety violations.
Turrentine Insurance Agency is here to help you understand how Houston business insurance can help you in the event of business losses. If you would like to get more coverage, request and online quote or call us today at (281) 476-0557.