Starting a business is undoubtedly among the most exciting things anyone can experience. But with the dream comes a myriad of responsibilities that one must fulfill to run a safe and successful business. Besides investing in the perfect design and architecture, new company owners must also ensure enough safety protocols to shield employees from workplace hazards.
Consider business insurance a prime example of one such safety policy that can prevent financial loss to the company, protect the employer, and provide for employees injured on the job. It can provide disability benefits, lost wages, and medical expenses, among other essential things, to workplace injury victims, helping them to rest and recover without worries.
Before delving further into why this coverage is a fantastic idea, refer to the other things you should ensure at the office to maintain safety standards.
Provide safety gear
Studies show that injuries are common in all public and private workspaces, from nursing professionals and construction workers to truck drivers and maintenance personnel. Invariably, providing your staff with all the essential safety equipment and gear to protect them from unforeseen accidents is a must.
You can begin by assessing the kind of equipment they need depending on the specific job requirements. For instance, while fire extinguishers and gas-detection equipment are standard in most workplaces, construction workers and others who work in harsh environments typically need additional gear such as goggles, hard hats, slip-resistant footwear, fall protection, etc.
Assess potential hazards
A detailed workplace hazard analysis is necessary if you want your employees to work in a safe zone and prevent as many occupational injuries as possible. The extensive document must contain every risk related to every job role, allowing you to plan for correct safety measures accordingly. For example, you must install steady, fall-proof shelves if you run a grocery store, ensuring they do not topple over customers or workers.
Also, perform the check now and again to ensure that new risks and threats are dealt with efficiently. You can also encourage safety practices by running workplace drills to familiarize workers with various scenarios, such as spillage, gas leaks, fires, and trip hazards, to name a few.
Ensure employees take enough breaks
Many people fail to understand that fatal injuries and disabilities can also result from overexertion on the job, not just slips and falls. For instance, many truck accidents occur when drivers refuse to get enough rest between jobs, resulting in them falling asleep at the wheel.
Therefore, employees must take mandatory breaks to ensure they aren’t exhausted from work, especially in labor-intensive environments such as construction, mining, or agriculture.
Invest in workers’ compensation
As mentioned earlier, investing in business insurance is among the most prudent steps for any company head, regardless of the industry type. It provides medical benefits and lost wages to workers who sustain grievous injuries or illnesses at the workplace, allowing them to recuperate in peace. Failing to invest in workers’ compensation may be a factor in encouraging workers to speak with a workman’s compensation attorney to receive the appropriate payment for a work injury.
It also covers the families of fatally injured people and provides them with death benefits, besides shielding the employers in cases of lawsuits. The idea is to purchase affordable, albeit premium, insurance coverage from a reputable professional with years of industry experience, allowing you to change or modify plans when necessary.
Finally, remember that a trustworthy company will provide free quotes to help you determine feasibility instead of charging unnecessary fees.