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Inexperienced or newly hired employees are a company’s biggest safety liability, accounting for a disproportionate number of accidents and injuries. Because of this, employers spend significant time and resources training new hires. Sometimes lost in the effort to train new workers is the importance of safety training for experienced workers. As a result, accidents among experienced workers are on the rise.

Many employers are shocked to discover that direct costs—such as medical expenses and indemnity payments—account for less than half of the total cost of workplace accidents.

Though many of our insureds are always looking for the quick fix, or the "magic pill" that will keep their employees from becoming injured on the job, consistent Safety, Protective equipment use, well maintained machines, tools, and workplace are all a part of the equation that make for a successful reduction in Workers' Comp costs.

Though many of our insureds are always looking for the quick fix, or the "magic pill" that will keep their employees from becoming injured on the job, consistent Safety, Protective equipment use, well maintained machines, tools, and workplace are all a part of the equation that make for a successful reduction in Workers' Comp costs.

Construction workers are at an increased risk for developing Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which is a painful and potentially disabling condition of the fingers, hands and arms.

Symptoms of HAVS include numbness, tingling and loss of nerve sensitivity, and can lead to the loss of strength and grip in the hands.

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 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry had the highest number of fatal occupational injuries in 2010.

Relying on employee "common sense" and assuming workers know how to identify hazards are not surefire ways to prevent accidents.

Accident prevention training should be provided for all workers and incorporated into every job site, especially before starting new job tasks. Training should include:

• Knowing when to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Recognizing and avoiding hazards
• Following specific procedures to avoid accidents
• Inspecting all equipment and tools to ensure they work properly
• Reinforcing the importance of proper housekeeping

For accident prevention posters and additional resources to help your employees identify hazards, contact CFR, Inc. today.

Saw dust, metal shavings, paint and other construction materials are the usual suspects for causing potentially harmful eye damage to construction workers. But for those who work outdoors, the sun is also the cause of irreversible damage to the eyes.

Most forms of heat illness can be avoided by following basic prevention guidelines. Even so, it's essential for athletes and coaches to know the warning signs of developing heat-related emergency and understand the level of severity of each condition. (see: Heat Illness - Symptoms and Severity)

Normally, our body temperature is regulated by sweating. A number of factors can limit the sweat response, including intense exercise in high temperatures or high humidity, age, obesity, fever, dehydration, illness, medications and alcohol. When anthlete develops a heat illness, it usually occurs after several hours of exertion and excessive sweating that leads, first to dehydration, and then to electrolyte imbalances.

 

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Good housekeeping is more than just mopping up a spill at the end of the day. Housekeeping should be done throughout the workday and in all areas of the plant, including aisles, stairs, storage areas and employee facilities.

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According to the Center for Construction Research, a construction worker has a 75 percent chance of suffering a disabling, work-related injury over the course of a 45-year career period, with Hispanic workers having a 20 percent greater risk of dying than white, non-Hispanic workers.

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The annual cost of occupational injuries and illnesses in the United States is approximately $250 billion, according to a recent study published in the Milbank Quarterly.

To put that staggering total in perspective, that is more than the yearly cost of cancer ($219 billion), diabetes ($174 billion), strokes ($62.7 billion) or coronary heart disease ($151.6 billion).

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The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has released the annual list of their top 10 most cited violations. The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2011 (Oct 1, 2010 through Sept 30, 2011):

Loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss and contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult for workers to hear warning signals.

DID YOU KNOW?

More than one-third of fall deaths in residential construction are caused by falls from roofs.