Minimizing Employee Injuries in the Small Business Workplace

The workplace is a place where a small business can lose a lot of money due to employee accidents. It is important for the small business owner to minimize risk whenever possible. If you own a small business or plan to start one, here are a few suggestions for how you can reduce employee injuries in your workplace. The discussion assumes that you are also planning to purchase or have already purchased the correct amounts of liability insurance and worker's compensation according to the laws in your state.

The first suggestion concerns employee training. It is your responsibility to give the proper safety training to new employees regarding the safe operation of equipment. You can conduct training in several ways. The first resource involves the materials available from the web site of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (see osha.gov). The second option is to invest money in safety materials like training videos and posters. The third option is to conduct personalized training by demonstrating proper safety techniques yourself. The fourth option is to delegate the training responsibility to a fully-trained, trustworthy employee. Select an employee who can be trusted to communicate the techniques and information thoroughly and consistently.

The second suggestion is to use signs and other methods to make sure that only trained employees are using risky equipment. Posting signs around the workplace may be required by OSHA and other laws. Another method is to use proper supervision to monitor whether equipment is being used by only trained employees. For example, you cannot operate a forklift without the proper certification. A forklift is one piece of equipment that has the potential to injure the operator as well as innocent bystanders. The more safety procedures and signs that you can implement in your business, the more risks you can prevent from happening.

The third suggestion involves designing a safe working environment and providing safety apparel for employees to utilize daily. Pay attention to minimizing hazards like wires, safety cords, wet surfaces, improper ventilation, and improperly stored chemicals. You can also provide safety equipment like masks, goggles, gloves, lifting belts, and step stools. The more attention you can give to safety and proper use of safety apparel, the more injuries you can prevent at work.

As a small business owner, you have a limited budget, but also a huge responsibility to protect your employees from unnecessary injury. Get educated and use whatever techniques possible to minimize injuries in your workplace.