Pennsylvania employers may be better off by creating simplified safety plans for their employers. The goal should be to create guiding principles instead of trying to account for every situation that may occur. This may make it easier for employees to take ownership of their safety as opposed to having decisions made for them. Of course, different people may have different ideas as it relates to staying safe on the job.
Some may believe that going too fast may increase the odds of making a mistake. However, it is possible to work slowly and cause an accident as well because of a lack of planning for potential hazards or a lack of oversight from management. Workers may believe that accidents happen when employees don’t follow the rules or wear the right type of safety equipment. It is also common for workers to say that they have gotten hurt while following those rules.
Finally, workers may think that failure to think ahead is the reason why a person gets hurt at work. In some cases, a person doesn’t have the experience or training to do a proper hazard/risk assessment. Those who have taken risks in the past and not gotten hurt may actually be more likely to take them again in the future. Therefore, it is more important to know what to think about when developing safety plans.
Injured workers may not be able to work temporarily or even permanently after getting hurt. Workers’ compensation benefits may be available to help them pay medical expenses while they recover. A portion of an injured worker’s salary may also be part of the benefits that they get after being hurt on the job. Benefits are generally available regardless of who was at fault for the accident taking place.
