When Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure,” he likely wasn’t talking about Workers’ Comp claims, but the wisdom still rings true! While the risk can never be 100% eliminated, there are surprisingly simple ways to help prevent workplace illness and injury. Learn about four of the more common forms of workplace injuries below — and how to help reduce your business’s exposure.

1. Injuries from Falls or Falling Objects

Whether it’s a fall from a ladder, or a pallet of merchandise falling from above, gravity tends to be the instigator of many unfortunate workplace injuries. A report analyzing over 42,000 workers’ compensation claims in the retail sector found that falls accounted for 19% of claims alone. What’s more, OSHA names “being struck by a falling object” as one of their “fatal four” injuries in the construction industry. 

Prevention tips: 

• • Require appropriate footwear. If it comes between a worker and the ground, it’s worth spending money on – especially when it comes to footwear. From restaurants to worksites, requiring and helping provide footwear can keep your employees safer — and avoid an OSHA complaint.
  • Provide proper equipment and training. While using the proper equipment is important, regular training for your entire workforce is more critical than you might think. For example, a warehouse manager might not drive a forklift during the normal day-to-day, but they still need to be fluent in proper operation in case of a malfunction with a misplaced or falling pallet.
  • Communicate when it’s busy. When there’s a rush to get a shipment out the door or a job site completed, ensure everyone communicates their surroundings and tasks to one another. Avoiding complacency and keeping everyone alert provides extra protection when it gets busy.

2. Equipment and Motor Vehicle Accidents

The intricate equipment and dense transportation infrastructure that underpins our nation’s economy should never be taken lightly. The National Council on Compensation Insurance found motor vehicle accident-related workers’ comp claims increased in the last decade. In a 10-year study of more than 700,000 claims, the CDC found that 22.5% of them were from “Contact with Objects and Equipment.”

Prevention tips:

• • Train employees to recognize hazards. Have your workforce watch how an experienced user safely interacts with an intricate piece of equipment. The user can share vital tips on machine parts that can cause bodily injury when used incorrectly.
  • Limit distractions. Repetition can dull anyone’s senses. Be it a row-crop tractor, industrial sawblade, or company car — put a special emphasis on reducing distractions for heavy equipment and vehicle operators.
  • Implement guarding and lockout-tagout procedures. Machine guarding can include physical guards, pullbacks and restraints, and presence sensors for employee safety, while lockout-tagout procedures isolate the power source during maintenance to protect against electrocution and other hazards.

3. Cuts, Burns, and Contusions

From food service to industrial assembly lines, cuts, burns and contusions span many, many industries. In a 2021 survey, the CDC found over 390,000 burn injuries that required medical treatment, and a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that cuts and contusions combined constituted 17.1% of the most common workplace injuries per 10,000 full-time workers. 

Protection tips: 

• • Enforce proper technique and equipment maintenance. Each task requires the proper tool, and each tool requires proper technique and maintenance. For example, the technique for a chef’s knife will differ greatly from that of a tomato knife. Furthermore, a sharpened knife slips less on food and requires less force to work properly, reducing the chance of injury.
  • Talk — and listen — to your staff. Not only is it important for your crew to be aware of any available safety measures like fire retardants (extinguishers, baking soda, etc.) and procedures, but also for them to feel comfortable bringing their concerns to you. This means it’s important to communicate important safety information and ask if there are follow-up questions or concerns.
  • Don’t skimp on PPEs. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) can protect employees from electrocution, heat and chemical burns, lacerations, bruising and much more. The expenses for providing proper PPE are fractional compared to potential short- and long-term costs of a lengthy worker’s compensation claim.

4. Repetitive Strain

While not as dramatic as being crushed or dismembered (sorry for that image!), repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) can impair the long-term health of arms, shoulders, back, neck and hands. Studies have shown incidences of carpal tunnel in 1-3 out of 1,000 people. 

Prevention Tips:

• • Provide ergonomic workstations and environments. Most office employees spend significant time at their workstations, so it’s important to provide chairs with proper lumbar support, standing desks (if possible) and a clean, uncluttered work area. Anything that supports better posture during the day-to-day is a good idea.
  • Hold proactive health initiatives. Encouraging employees to take charge of their wellness can be as easy as holding a friendly competition. Who can drink the most ounces of water over a week? How many hours can each team collectively stand at their desks? Which team can log the most steps? This can push many employees to start healthy new habits who might not otherwise have considered it.
  • Schedule regular breaks and rotations. This is especially critical for employees operating heavy machinery, like a construction worker with a jackhammer. In an office setting, management can lead 15-minute “quick-walk” breaks that may help reduce RSI risk while also boosting overall productivity and problem solving. 

No Business is Risk Free: Need Coverage?

All in all, efforts to reduce your risk of Workers’ Comp claims should be tailored to your unique business — just like your Workers’ Compensation coverage. That’s why Direct WorkComp makes finding the right choice easy — start the process today!