Protecting New Employees from Injuries on the Job
Attracting and retaining top talent is a priority in any growing organization. Hiring new employees requires a substantial commitment of time and resources, and the goal to keep employees safe in the workplace should begin the moment a recruit accepts an offer. While newer employees may be particularly vulnerable to job-related injuries, formal, job-related safety programs are an effective means to minimize the number of workplace injuries and their corresponding costs.
According to Travelers data1, nearly one-third of workplace injuries occur within the first year of employment, and account for nearly one-third of claim costs. Employees with less than one year on the job are over-represented in claims data for frequent injuries, such as muscle sprains, as well as more catastrophic injuries, such as amputations.2
Comparing your organization's experience to this benchmark data may help you identify where additional training programs and safety best practices might help your employees avoid common workplace injuries, to which first-year employees may be more susceptible. Working with an experienced third-party administrator can also help control loss costs. Constitution State Services (CSS) can help customers mitigate exposures by assessing operations and providing strategic recommendations.
With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and potential for new hiring or return of furloughed employees, it is critical employers have robust ongoing safety training programs and practices in place. Here are five areas to focus on to help prevent workplace injuries.
5 Ways to help protect new employees from injuries on the job
1. Focus on safety from the beginning of the hiring process
Safety starts before an employee's first day on the job. Having a formal hiring process and clear job descriptions can help attract qualified job candidates who are likely to fit well into your organization's safety culture. Job descriptions should convey your organization's expectations around adherence to safety practices, so potential employees understand the importance of safety, starting with their first interactions with the company.
2. Conduct a job safety analysis
A job safety analysis, or JSA, is a process that breaks down each step in a job, describes the hazards associated with each step and defines the safe work method that minimizes or eliminates each hazard. When you conduct a JSA, it can help your company understand the hazards of a particular job so you can define the procedures to address the exposure. Provide skills-based safety training, rather than awareness based only, so employees develop a firsthand understanding of proper safety protocols. This can be more effective than, for example, simply watching a video or online tutorial.
3. Onboard and continuously train employees
Once hired, safety training can begin on day one before an employee starts executing the tasks of their new role. Even experienced employees can be at a higher risk of an injury when switching roles or duties of employment. Whether they are new to the role, new to the department or recently returning to work in a transitional duty role after an injury, onboarding and training is essential. Regular safety training can help to ensure that employees understand and adhere to safety expectations and procedures.
4. Implement an accident analysis program
Learning from past accidents can help prevent similar ones in the future. An accident analysis program can help identify the root causes of an accident. These insights can then help companies to develop corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of similar accidents and injuries.
5. Support employees throughout their careers
Employees are still at risk of injuries at work after their first year on the job. Sprains and strains top the list for longer-tenured workers, according to Travelers data3. Implementing illness prevention programs and general safety trainings can help reduce workplace injuries.
Working with CSS on workers compensation claims
If one of your employees gets injured on the job, our Claim professionals provide your employees with the care and resources they need to return to work as soon as medically appropriate, including nurse case managers on staff who provide caring and practical support. CSS offers access to a suite of resources that simplify the claims process and enable employees to take an active role in their recovery.
Learn more about our medical resources and our workers compensation claim management services.
Sources:
1 Travelers indemnity claim data, in 2014-18 accident years. Zero-dollar claims excluded. Valued 12/31/2019. Losses are unlimited and undeveloped.
2,3 Ibid.
