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Design your safety program

When designing your loss prevention program, make sure to include the following four crucial elements.

Choose an employee that is familiar with your operations and is dedicated to making your work environment safe. Key responsibilities include:

  • Responding to emergencies
  • Helping with hiring, especially physical job requirements
  • Analyzing accidents
  • Analyzing safety data and injury trends
  • Providing safety training
  • Leading safety committee meetings
  • Reinforcing company policies
  • Effective commumication

Following a thorough hiring process is one important way you can prevent problem workers’ compensation claims, along with other challenges.

  • Match employees’ skills to their job requirements to make workplace injuries less likely
  • Require applicants to undergo pre-employment physicals and drug and alcohol testing
  • Include physical demands and environmental exposures in job descriptions
  • Be aware of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act to avoid discrimination
  • Steer clear of undocumented workers and be sure IDs are legitimate
  • Train employees on injury prevention in new employee orientation

Develop a written loss prevention program that describes the safest way to work, sets measurable goals and performance standards, and monitors annual progress.

To clearly define your goals and make safety a priority, develop a program unique to your organization. View example program.

Safety orientation and job- and industry-specific training are vital to preventing injuries. Safety training ensures employees are familiar with the hazards of the workplace and tells them how to do work tasks safely. Training should be specific to your organization, but potential topics could include:

  • Electrical hazards
  • Employee right to know
  • Lockout/tagout
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Forklift safety
  • Proper lifting
  • Body mechanics
  • Ergonomics
  • Ladder safety
  • Fall protection
  • Excavation

For resources you can use to aid in training, visit our resource catalog where you can download or order a variety of handouts, posters and more.