Workplace safety should be a top priority for all employees. Companies that hire workers to run manufacturing plants or to work in areas where chemicals may be present need to have a comprehensive safety plan to avoid excessive exposure to toxic materials. Failing to keep workers free from harm may result in a high financial cost as well as damage to the company’s brand.
You’ll Pay Higher Workers’ Compensation Premiums
If a worker is hurt on the job, he or she has the right to apply for workers’ compensation benefits. The more claims that your workers’ compensation insurance company has to pay out, the higher your premiums will be. That could easily add thousands of dollars per year in costs that the organization could avoid by having a safety plan in place.
Workers Don’t Want to Willingly Harm Themselves
Most workers realize that injuries can happen at any company and while performing almost any job duties. However, they won’t want to work for a business that doesn’t do anything to reduce that risk of getting hurt. If you don’t do anything to learn from previous accidents or other safety failures, they will like leave.
Furthermore, they may tell their friends and other contacts to not associate themselves with the company. This could result in higher turnover and an inability to hire quality workers. Ultimately, that could result in the business going under, and it is why you should hire a company like Intellishare Environmental to help.
The Government May Get Involved
Government agencies such as the EPA and OSHA set minimum safety standards that most employers are obligated to abide by. Failure to do so could result in significant fines. It may also result in the company shutting down until it is in compliance with safety standards. Depending on the severity of the violations, it could take weeks or months before your business can get back to making money again. Furthermore, business owners may be at risk of facing civil or criminal charges for their negligence. In serious cases, a conviction could result in spending many years in prison.
Lost Productivity Costs Money
An injured worker is one who won’t be able to do anything productive for the company. If you lose too many workers, it may be difficult to meet production targets or other deadlines. Failing to meet the expectations of your customers could result in lost contracts and other negative impacts to your company’s bottom line. These impacts could be even more profound if you lose experienced workers and have to replace them with those who may not necessarily know what they are doing.
If you have workers who are exposed to chemicals or other toxic materials, it is important that their safety is a top priority. Failing to meet safety standards could result in fines, citations and workers who simply won’t want to come back. While one bad accident may not be enough to bring your company down, a pattern of neglect and disregard for worker safety will likely be its undoing over time.