€27,300: The Average Cost of Workplace Accidents to Employers
Last year €22m in total in Ireland was paid out in compensation for workplace accidents. For a small business with limited cash reserves, compensating an injured employee can be the difference between survival and insolvency.
There are practical steps that businesses can take to protect themselves and their employees, since most workplace injuries are preventable.
Slips, trips and falls are the largest cause of accidents in all sectors. Last year they accounted for 33pc of all claims.
One in five of those slips or trips resulted in employees missing a month of work, or more. 25% of all workplaces surveyed by HSA inspectors had not carried out a Slip, Trip and Fall risk assessment.
Prevention can only be achieved by employers leading the way on risk management through robust health and safety initiatives.
Steps to assist in avoiding avoidable accidents:
- Nominate one person per shift to take charge of cleaning up spills as it creates a chain of responsibility
- Erect caution signs in the event of a spill - Clean up spills immediately and prevent access to the wet surface
- Fit mats with weights in areas of high footfall
- Good Lighting and clear identification of ground level changes like unexpected steps are vital.
Proper management of Workplace Safety and Health contribute to long-term commercial success and profitability!
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