Risk control is a term used in the insurance industry involving activities or actions to minimize incidents, injuries and losses that could affect policyholders’ loss experience. Exposures are typically controlled utilizing Engineering, Work Practice, Administrative, Behavior Based, and use of Personal Protective Equipment to Avoid, Reduce, Segregate, and/or Prevent the loss exposure.
How can accidents/injuries be reduced and/or prevented?
There are numerous strategies to reduce or prevent injuries and one of the most effective methods is to motivate employees to take personal responsibility for their safety. Employee involvement in routine safety meetings, employee safety committees, and routine hazard assessments of the workplace to identify and eliminate physical hazards are key to achieving that goal. Promoting and establishing a Positive Safety Culture in your organization will ultimately result in fewer losses, higher productivity, and greater profits.
Do I need a written Safety Program?
Yes. Whether you are a small, medium, or large organization, a Safety Program will establish a process to identify relevant exposures so that effective controls can be implemented to prevent potential future workplace injuries and incidents. As with HR Policies & Procedures, the Safety Program establishes specific safety policies & procedures designed to promote a safe work culture and reflects the processes tailored to your specific organization.
What are the most common injury exposures to most employees?
Motor Vehicle Accidents (Driving Exposures); Back Injuries (Lifting, Pushing, Pulling Exposures); and Falls (Slip/Trip/Falls, Fall from Heights/Ladders) are the most common types of injury exposures to employees in most industries. These exposures can be prevalent either at your company facility, at a customer’s location, or at job sites. Promoting and establishing a Positive Safety Culture with your employees will help control these exposures.
Should all injuries, even the small ones, be reported to the insurance company?
Yes. Claims should be reported to Service American Indemnity Company as soon as possible to ensure the best probable outcome. Statistics show that the sooner the claim is reported to the carrier, the lower the ultimate costs for that specific claim will be and the quicker the employee will return to full duty. Key to successful claims management is communication with all parties.
Why should safety meetings be documented?
Documented safety meetings demonstrate a good faith effort by the employer to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent workplace injuries. These records document which employees were trained, what topics they received training on, and when the training was provided. They can also be used as a tool to help management determine the effectiveness of the training provided (if losses continue to increase on topics covered, then the training provided is most likely ineffective).
Risk Specific safety training must be provided to staff as required by federal OSHA, depending on your industry and exposures. These topics may include, but not be limited to, Hazard Communication (GHS), Forklift Certification, Lockout/Tagout, Confined Spaces, Respiratory Protection, and Personal Protective Equipment. Service American Indemnity Company can provide relevant training resources and onsite assistance in support of these efforts.
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