Keeping employees safe should be the goal of every company. Not only will your business flourish, knowing that your workers are less likely to file a workers’ compensation claim, but you’ll pay lower insurance rates. Paying lower premiums is a good goal to have, as insurance amounts can add up quickly when you have a lot of different policies covering your company. This is why you need to spend some time doing something that can help: conducting a safety check or audit. A proper audit can lower your workers’ compensation insurance rates as well.
Not sure where to start? Let’s explore your options.
Why Conduct Safety Checks?
OSHA requires companies to conduct regular safety checks and audits. The amount of time between them varies based on the type of company. For example, a manufacturing company will need to have more safety audits than a warehouse facility. The types of safety measures to check for can vary as well.
However, going above and beyond with your safety audits, conducting them biweekly or monthly, can show your insurance company that you’re doing everything in your power to make sure that employees don’t get hurt. As a result, your workers’ compensation premiums may go down.
The Importance of Safety Checks
Not only can regular safety checks potentially lower your workers’ compensation premiums, but more importantly, they keep your employees safe. You have several options when it comes to these audits:
Meetings – Holding meetings about safety is one way of reinforcing good habits. By explaining to your workers what can happen when they take unsafe shortcuts, they’ll take the necessary measures to avoid accidents. You can also hold meetings where you ask your employees to mention potentially dangerous situations, so that you can proactively find the best solutions.
Checking Signage – If you have a number of safety signs up throughout your manufacturing area, you should have someone regularly check to make sure that they’re properly hung up and visible. Any signs that need to be replaced should be in order to ensure that they can be followed.
Making Repairs – Broken fixtures, like lights, safety rails, and more should be repaired or replaced on a regular basis. Examine them carefully during your safety audits, and be prepared to get any things fixed as soon as possible, lest they become even more unsafe.
Lowering Workers’ Compensation Premiums
The amount that you pay for workers’ compensation is based on a number of factors. These include the number of employees that you have, the type of work that they do, and the overall safety features that are in place. Any previous workers’ compensation claims are included in this, too. The fewer you have, the more likely you are to pay less for your insurance premiums.
Have Questions? Contact Charlotte Insurance
Want to learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or safety audits for your company? Contact Charlotte Insurance. Our agents can explore and explain all available options and put together the insurance coverage plan your business needs.