Employers in Pennsylvania and throughout the country don’t like to miss project deadlines. However, the consequences of a workplace accident could be more significant than missing a deadline because safety rules were prioritized. To ensure that companies are putting the proper emphasis on workplace safety, owners and managers should create and champion a culture that values it. As a general rule, the workers will follow the lead of their managers.
To get employees to buy into a safety program, they should be given the opportunity to give feedback. This can be done through private conversations or through discussions that occur prior to the start of a shift. During pre-shift meetings, managers should emphasize the importance of following safety rules as well as talk about any hazards that have been identified in recent hours or days. To further encourage communication between workers and managers, safety surveys should be distributed to employees.
While making workplace safety a priority is a good step for employers to take, it should be viewed as an ongoing process. This means that employees should receive training on an ongoing basis. Over time, an employee is more likely to identify hazards and take steps to avoid them, which results in fewer accidents or injuries and the costs that come with them.
If an employee is hurt at work, he or she might receive workers compensation benefits. These benefits may help pay medical expenses related to the injury as well as help an employee recover lost wages while out of work. In some cases, the benefits might become permanent if an individual is unable to return to work. If an application is denied for any reason, it may be possible to appeal that decision with the assistance of an attorney.
