Eddie woke up one frigid, Ohio, winter morning as he always did. That day, he assumed, would be no different than any other day. He arose to the tune of his 4:30 a.m. alarm clock sounding, what his wife and children often called “the fall-out alarm.” His wife darted awake as well, but quickly rolled back over and off to sleep again. 

Eddie rambled down the stairs to the kitchen and poured his first cup of black coffee, slugged it down, and then filled his travel mug as he hustled out the door to go to work. He’d been a machinist for the same small tool and dies company for the past 20 years and was a valued employee. The owner had been heard, on a fairly regular basis, saying, “This company would fold if it weren’t for Eddie.” This was probably the truth; Eddie hadn’t missed a day of work since he’d been there and, on a daily basis, out-produced the rest of the shop combined. He was smart, efficient, and met every deadline he was ever given. 

What Eddie didn’t know about that day was that it would be his last for the next 15 months. Upon entering the building Eddie slipped in a puddle of hydraulic fluid. With his hands occupied with his lunch, coffee, and a trashcan someone left out the night before, he was unable to brace his fall in any way and fell to the concrete floor. Eddie suffered a broken elbow, collar bone, and hip, as well as a herniated disk. 

In a split second, Eddie’s, his family’s and his employer’s lives all took a drastic turn for the worse. The hydraulic fluid on the floor was left by another employee the night before. When asked, that employee stated he was going to clean it up in the morning before anyone else got there. What he didn’t know was that Eddie was planning on getting to work early the following day to finish a big project. Due to one worker’s inattention to detail, Eddie and his family faced some of the toughest times they’d ever encountered. Eddie’s employer felt those hard times too.

Eddie’s fall resulted in some very serious injuries; after multiple surgeries, doctor visits, and countless hours of therapy, his injuries cost well over $300,000 in medical bills alone. This doesn’t even take into consideration the lost time wage compensation and loss of production his employer suffered from Eddie’s absence. 

Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries in America

In America, employers pay over a billion dollars a week for slip, trip, and fall (ST&F) injuries. ST&F injuries also result in 15 percent of work-related fatalities, are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, and account for one-of-every-six Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) claims every year. The alarming fact behind those numbers is that most of the injuries were very preventable had employers utilized just a few cost-effective strategies.

Let’s take a look at some simple adjustments you, as an employer, can make to your workplace to help prevent ST&F injuries.

• Housekeeping or making sure the workspace is free of clutter and employees clean spills immediately.
• Designate and mark passageways for walking.
• Provide or require associates to wear appropriate footwear.
• Make sure floor openings and holes are appropriately guarded or covered.
• Provide proper lighting in all spaces.
• Perform frequent “walk-throughs” to identify hazards, and then mitigate those hazards.
• Train employees on specific hazards in your workplace.
• Train employees how to recognize possible hazards.
• Lead by example and create the safety culture in your workplace.

Remember, your employees aren’t reading this blog, you, the employer, are. Safety starts and ends with you. The culture is yours to create. Develop it. Own it. Exemplify it. If you want to make your workplace safer, contact GMS today to learn more about workers’ compensation management and loss prevention strategies. 

Winter isn’t coming—it’s here. The falling snow and frigid air are good reminders to prepare your workplace for the winter months ahead. From power outages to workplace injuries, winter weather can have some chilling effects on your business operations. Read on to understand why workplace safety is important and the winter workplace safety measures your organization should take this season.

Why Invest in Workplace Safety

Winter weather can cause many workplace injuries and safety hazards. Don’t think your organization is immune. For example, in 2014, there were 42,480 work injuries involving ice, sleet, or snow that required at least one day to recuperate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These injuries resulted from falls, slips or trips; overexertion and bodily reaction; and transportation incidents. However, had the proper winter workplace safety precautions been taken, many of these workplace injuries likely could have been prevented.

Workplace injuries not only result in lost work hours, but safety violations can also lead to costly fines. The average penalty for a willful or repeated violation is $129,336. Additionally, your insurance rate will go up with the more workers compensation costs your organization takes on. To avoid these expenses, it’s best to implement loss prevention strategies before workplace accidents happen. Through human resource and risk management tactics, you can build toward a more secure future for your company while saving time and cutting costs for your business in the process.

Winter Workplace Safety Tips

Businesses can’t keep operations running and thriving without a healthy and efficient workforce. That’s why it’s important to prepare for the elements now to keep your employees safe and ensure your workplace continues to run smoothly during the winter months. 

Here are a few winter workplace safety measures you can implement at your organization this season:

Prevent slip-and-fall accidents

Snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the winter can create wet and slippery surfaces at work that will lead to accidents. Most snow and ice-related slip and falls happen outdoors, so make sure your parking lots, driveways, and walkways are cleared and salted so workers can travel safely between the worksite and their vehicle.

Winter workplace accidents can also occur indoors, especially in entryways, hallways, and other rooms where ice and snow have been tracked in from outside. Lay down absorbent mats and set up wet floor signs to help employees safely move around the office during the winter months.

Safeguard your air quality

Cold temps lead to tightly sealed workplaces, so the office can get a bit stuffy during the winter months. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the levels of contaminants and pollutants found in indoor air can be between 2 and 5 times higher than outdoor air. 

To prevent the accumulation and buildup of contaminants inside your workplace, use cleaning, break room, maintenance, and office supplies that don’t emit vapors or distribute contaminants. Also, take advantage of warm winter days to open the windows and filter some of the air out.

Back up utilities, technology, and data

Power outages can happen when weather conditions take a turn for the worse, causing technology and utilities to fail. In case the electricity goes out, keep flashlights stashed around the office so employees can safely navigate their way to the exit. Additionally, pipes can freeze and burst if the heat is off for too long and sump pump failure could cause flooding. Consider investing in a backup power generator to keep the building utilities running smoothly.

A bad storm can also cause electrical surges that can damage expensive technology equipment, such as computers, printers, TVs, and data centers. Make sure your devices are hooked into surge protectors to avoid any electrical damage. Additionally, loss of power can result in loss of company data. Regularly back up data through a hosted off-site or onsite service, and make sure your back-up system is functioning properly before a potential storm hits.

Allow a work-from-home option

Inclement weather can affect an employee’s ability to get to work safely and in a timely manner, so it’s important to have a telecommuting policy in place. Every year, more than 1,300 people are killed and 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Not to mention, the time your employees waste on a lengthy winter commute could be put to better use if they avoid it altogether and work from home. The FHWA says speeds can be reduced by as much as 40 percent during bad weather, increasing travel time delay—and the last thing you want is an employee speeding to work to avoid clocking in late.

If the job permits, encourage your employees to work from home if they feel unsafe commuting to the office during inclement weather. Make sure your staff has the proper equipment, such as access to the company intranet and important contact information saved to do their job effectively from home. During the winter months, employees should get in the habit of taking laptops and work materials home when they leave for the day in case a bad storm rolls in overnight. 

Keep sick employees out of the office

Bad weather isn’t the only safety hazard companies have to overcome during the winter months. Colder temperatures often come with a rise in sickness, such as the common cold and flu, and unfortunately, that doesn’t deter some employees from coming into the office.

According to NSF International, about 1 in 4 employees goes to work when they’re sick. While this might sound good for meeting deadlines, these employees are not only putting the entire office at risk for getting sick, they’re actually being less productive than if they would have just taken a sick day to recover.

Encourage employees not to come into the office when they’re sick, either by working from home or taking the day off. Sanitize workspaces, especially desks, keyboards, door knobs, and bathroom keys on a more frequent basis during the winter months when flu season is at its peak.

More Workplace Safety Help

It’s important for business owners to take a proactive approach to workplace safety, especially during the winter months. Group Management Services can help with onsite consulting, jobsite inspections, accident and injury investigations, training, and education to make sure your workplace is a safe environment for employees.

As you prepare for the winter, you might also want to think about other ways you can prepare your workplace year-round. GMS offers a variety of payroll, risk management, and human resources services to help keep your business running smoothly all through the year. 

Want to make your workplace safer? Contact GMS today to talk with one of our experts about how you can ensure workplace safety at your organization.

A healthy and efficient workforce is paramount for business owners to keep operations running smoothly, yet injury in the workplace is all too common. According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. Prioritizing occupational health is essential, not only to reduce the risk of workplace injuries, but also to lower your workers’ compensation rates and limit violations for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Follow these workplace safety tips to build a more secure workplace for your company.

Do Educate Your Workforce

No matter how many safety guidelines and practices you set, they’ll do no good if your employees aren’t aware or don’t understand them. Take the time to educate your workforce—not just new hires—to ensure they are fully aware and understand the guidelines you have in place. A quick refresher course on workplace safety for employees never hurt anyone. Ongoing safety training supports a strong occupational health culture and helps reinforce critical protocols across all levels of staff. 

Don’t Take Shortcuts on Procedures

Workplace procedures exist to protect employees and maintain occupational health standards. While it may seem like a good idea at the time to skip a couple steps to speed up production, if it results in an injury, production will only be slowed down. In 2017, the National Safety Council reported that 104 million production days were lost due to work-related injuries. It’s critical that employees follow procedures—and supervisors and managers enforce protocol as a standard operating procedure at all times.

Do Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Whether it’s from contact with heavy machinery or slipping on wet floors in the office, every job can present some dangers. The National Safety Council also found that the most common workplace injuries are the result of overexertion, contact with objects and equipment, and slips, trips, and falls. Promoting environmental awareness is the cornerstone of occupational health and safety.

Make sure workers are aware of their surroundings. One of the top safety violations reported to OSHA is a lack of warning signs and labels. Having proper signage in place, like “Watch for Falling Objects” or “Caution Wet Floors,” can help workers become more aware of any potential dangers in their environment.

Don’t Be Quiet About Unsafe Conditions

It’s important to take a proactive approach to workplace safety. Your employees are the eyes and ears of your workplace. Promote a culture where employees feel comfortable speaking up about safety concerns. This kind of proactive reporting supports both compliance and occupational health by addressing small hazards before they escalate into serious problems. After all, it’s in your best interest as an employer to correct safety issues as they arise, rather than face an OHSA violation and/or a workers’ compensation claim later.

Do Encourage Regular Breaks

In a culture that often promotes workaholic tendencies, it’s important to give and encourage employees to take regular breaks. Tired workers are more prone to injuries, as they become less aware of their surroundings. Data from the National Health Interview Survey found that injuries occur over three times more often to workers who sleep fewer than five hours per night.

While there is no federal requirement for breaks or meal periods under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), some states like Illinois and New York do require it. Regardless of your location, all employers should encourage workers to take breaks, which includes not eating lunch at a desk. Breaks are an important component of any occupational health strategy, especially when paired with scheduling physically demanding tasks for the start of a shift , when your employees are most alert.

Don’t Forgo Drug Testing

It can be a tough pill to swallow but working under the influence is more common than you may think. A Hazelden Foundation survey found that more than 60 percent of adults know people who have gone to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Similar to fatigue, when a worker’s ability to exercise judgement, coordination, motor control, concentration, and alertness is compromised, workplace injury is bound to happen. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), employees who abuse alcohol or drugs are over three times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident.

We’ve seen it happen to employers firsthand, resulting in ugly battles over workers’ compensation claims. Ongoing drug testing is a surefire way to reinforce occupational health and safety measures and protect your business and workforce.

Do Wear Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a critical defense against injury and is a fundamental element of occupational health practices. Whether it’s eye protection, a hard hat, or a respirator, PPE must be worn when necessary. This may sound like a no-brainer, but the majority of OSHA violations involve a lack of protection, whether it’s fall protection or eye and face protection. It’s up to facility managers and business owners to enforce that all workers wear the proper protective gear and that any protective equipment is in place before tasks are carried out.

Don’t Block Emergency Exits

In case of an emergency, it’s important to have quick and easy access to exits. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, never place anything—ladders, forklifts, boxes, anything—in front of an emergency exit door. Furthermore, ensure pathways to the equipment for emergency shutoffs are clear in case you need to immediately stop them from functioning. These practices are basic but vital to maintaining occupational health and safety in crisis situations.

Do Ask for Help

It’s important for business owners to understand the proper safety precautions needed for their workplace. Group Management Services can help with onsite consulting, jobsite inspections, accident and injury investigations, workplace safety training, and education to make sure your workplace is a safe environment for employees. We help you create and maintain a workplace built around occupational health best practices.

As you think about ways to keep operations running smoothly, you might also want to think about other ways you can make your workplace simpler, safer, and stronger. GMS offers payroll, risk management, and human resources services to help keep your business running smoothly all through the year. Contact GMS today to talk with one of our experts about how you can ensure employee safety at your workplace.