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.

 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.

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).

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one-fourth of all compensation indemnity claims involve back injuries. Overall, these injuries cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year.

The good news is that by evaluating your existing administrative and engineering controls and making necessary changes, you can reduce the risk of back injuries due to lifting—the cause of three out of every four occupational back injuries.

The key to spending fewer WC claims dollars is more than just stopping a few workplace accidents; it's having a sound safety program designed to continuously improve.

 

As temperatures turn colder, it is time to focus on winter safety. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts colder than normal temperatures with freezing the first week of December, and plenty of snow before the Christmas holiday!

The moment an injury occurs, it initiates a sequence of events that can last for weeks or even months. But no matter how prolonged the recovery period, the first 24 hours after an injury are the most crucial. To respond effectively to an incident, the majority of the action items should occur within 24 hours.