8 Tips for Reducing Employee Injuries

Every time there is another serious workplace injury in the news, the story is often shocking—and preventable.

You may have heard that OSHA issued Ohio-based BEF Foods heavy fines after a worker sustained a partial arm amputation. Or the deadly steam pipe explosion that killed two workers, or the gas leak in Georgia that killed six and injured 12.

What do they all have in common? These incidents were largely preventable and came with huge costs. According to the NSC Injury Facts:

• Work injury costs to U.S. employers totaled $171 billion in 2019
• On average, businesses pay $1,100 per employee due to injury-related costs
• Each workplace fatality costs an average of $1.22 million

Each medically consulted injury costs employers around $42,000. So, how can employers reduce injuries, lower costs, and save lives?

1. Create a continuous improvement model for a safety-first culture

Make safety reporting a cultural norm. Establish safety committees, conduct regular safety surveys, and monitor progress.

2. Keep up on the latest OSHA safety rules

Designate someone to review OSHA updates—especially when new equipment or workflows are introduced.

3. Avoid safety shortcuts

Teach employees why procedures matter. Encourage managers to observe safety compliance at all times.

4. Enforce breaks

Fatigue contributes to 13% of injuries. Promote breaks and create a culture of work/life balance to reduce fatigue-related accidents.

5. Use proper gear

OSHA reports show that 84% of fatal head injuries occur due to lack of head protection. PPE is critical:

• Eye injury from chemicals
• Head/foot injury from falling objects
• Hand injury from sharp tools
• Hearing loss from noise
• Lung damage from fumes

6. Use the right tools for the job

Improper tool usage, like riding a forklift, increases risk. Always use tools as intended to avoid serious injury.

7. Improve organizational ergonomics

Over 1.8 million workers suffer repetitive motion injuries. Provide fatigue mats, ergonomic desks, and encourage early reporting of MSKs to mitigate strain-related injuries.

8. Leverage telemedicine remote injury care

Many injuries don’t require ER visits. HealthcareLive’s Remote Injury Care lets a clinician assess injuries virtually and determine if ER visits are needed—saving money and reducing OSHA recordables.

Talk with our team today to improve your job-site injury response and overall workplace safety.