Apr 12, 2018

6+ Tips for Creating a Safer Workplace and Reducing Workers’ Compensation Claims

Workers’ Compensation insurance is required in most states to provide no-fault coverage for employees suffering job-related injuries or illness. More than that, it is also designed to help protect businesses from employer’s liability lawsuits and other potential costs associated with workplace accidents. Even with this required expense there are ways you can minimize the filing of claims and, potentially, lower your premiums regardless of your industry. Here are six things to consider for your business.

Hire the right people for the job. Workplace safety begins with safe hiring practices. Ensure potential employees have the right experience and training for the position. Conduct background checks to validate a candidate's ability to perform job functions safely and effectively. Investigate credit reports, criminal background, workers compensation claims history, drug and alcohol history, physical ability and more. The legality of such checks can vary from state to state so check with your local government before instituting.
- Bonus Tip: Consult your payroll or Human Capital Management (HCM) system provider for cost effective ways to conduct background checks and for different ways your system can help process applications and assist employee tracking for new hires.
Clearly define employee functions. Comprehensive documentation of the roles and responsibilities for each position helps you make better hiring decisions, utilize resources in the safest, most efficient way possible, and get injured workers back on the job quicker.
- Bonus Tip: Your HCM system is a great tool to keep track of the employee operations and allows you to easily check if they are properly classified under the Worker’s Compensation policy.
Create a culture of safety – starting at the top. Studies show that the more committed to workplace safety leadership is, the less injuries happen. Document policies and procedures for worker, security and fleet safety. Identify risks and create strategies to mitigate them. Distribute policies to all employees and ensure each are adequately trained on safe operational procedures.
Establish safety committees. No one better understands how to keep working conditions safe than the people on the job. Empower employees at all levels to get involved, providing easy ways to report safety concerns and provide input on how to make operating procedures safer.
Adapt ergonomic processes. Better workplace design can help minimize job-related injury or chronic illness. Whenever possible, engineer workstations, tools, machines and operational processes to fit the task to the worker.
Manage and analyze incidents, then adjust accordingly. Not all injuries can be avoided. Establishing procedures for reporting, responding to, and documenting injuries when they do occur is key. Analyze the data. Remove identified hazards. Change processes found to commonly cause injuries. Revise strategies to improve incident response in the future.
- Bonus Tip: Make sure accident forms are readily available for all managers in your payroll/HCM system. This will help get accident reports completed in a timely and accurate manner.

NewtekOne offers Workers’ Compensation policies for all 50 states as well as a payroll and HCM system to help you adopt the tips mentioned above. Reach out to us today at 855-763-9835 or hello@newtekone.com.