Many individuals in Ohio have been injured at the workplace. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workers’ compensation cost businesses in the United States more than $53 billion just in 2008. As many businesses have attempted to cut costs, creating a safer, cleaner work environment has become a priority for some to help avoid the possibility of workplace injury or illness.
The benefits of this are seen on both sides of the employment relationship. For employers, workers’ compensation costs are decreased and the safety of their employees can be less of a concern, allowing many potential lawsuits to be avoided. For employees, the workplace is safer and cleaner, meaning they are less likely to be injured or become sick while on the job. OHSA suggests implementing a program to ensure employee health and safety is met with responsibility on the part of the employer. Any company that disregards the safety of its employees may be liable for workers’ compensation payouts if individuals are injured while on the job.
OSHA does provide assistance in establishing programs designed to increase the safety of employees. One of these is called the OSHA Challenge Program. In this program, OSHA works with companies by guiding them on their path to better safety practices. As the company becomes more worker friendly, OSHA recognizes its progress. An online guide accompanies this program so that a company can better understand the sorts of preventative measures it can take.
Another program that OSHA suggests for companies looking to make the workplace safer, so as to avoid accidents and health hazards, is the Voluntary Protection Program. In this branch of safety management, OSHA sends a representative to assess the potential hazards of the company. After this, the employer and employees are both trained in preventative tactics to help prevent and control safety mishaps.
Source: Lab Manager Magazine, “3 Ways to Prevent Illness and Injury in the Lab,” Sept. 29, 2011