Back in 2013 and every year after that, the construction industry accounted for 20% of work-related deaths in the United States. The industry is considered to pose the highest risks to its workers. Other high-risk industries are trucking, farming, logging, roofing, and aircraft. But although working conditions have improved over the past decade because of the policies enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there remain to be many businesses that refuse to adopt occupational safety measures.
Don’t be like these businesses. If you live in cities such as Long Beach, an excellent wrongful death lawyer can put your business in jeopardy when one of your workers dies. Usually, employers are held responsible for their negligence in the workplace. The relatives of the deceased can file a lawsuit against you for not creating and enforcing safety measures in the workplace that resulted in the death of their loved one. If you don’t think that this is reason enough to enforce safety measures in your worksite, here are three reasons occupational safety matters for any type of business:
Safety Saves the Lives of Your Workers
Safety policies can spell the difference between life and death. It is your responsibility to your employees to ensure that they are safe at work. Do you want this on your conscience? Remember that your employees have families to go home to. Imagine how it would feel to have to tell them that their loved one had an accident while working to put food on the table. That’s all there is to it. People work for their loved ones the same way you are trying to grow your business for your family.
It Also Reduces Expenses
Workplace injuries caused by accidents are an additional burden to the employees. They wouldn’t be able to work for a time. They would have to rely on their insurance benefits. They would also face psychological trauma because of what happened. But they are not the only ones who would suffer the consequences of neglect. Your business has to shoulder the medical expenses of these employees. The productivity in your worksite would be affected. There could also be legal woes that you have to face because of the lack of safety policies in your workplace. These could put a strain on your business.
The Law Mandates Companies to Practice Safety Measures
The law requires employers to put safety measures in place to ensure the lives and health of their workers. These regulations and standards exist to safeguard employees. If employers are found to be in violation of these standards, it could result in legal consequences. You might face a possible lawsuit and closure of the business. This would also create more financial burden to your company.
You shouldn’t think twice about building a safety policy in the workplace. Showing employees that you care about them will also result in them being more productive at work. Remember that the success of your business hinges on the relationship that you can build with your employees.