2016 Was a Tough Year for Workplace Safety in Ontario | 5 Takeaways for Your Business

From fines for failure to pay, to on the job injuries and even workplace fatalities, Ontario businesses faced high fines and employees faced workplace accidents in 2016.

While workplace injuries and accidents can cost your business hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in workers’ compensation claims and fines, the real cost is to employees who experience life-changing injuries or worse, lose their lives. To keep your workplace safe, prevent injuries, and in the process reduce the chance of your business incurring a large fine, it’s vital to provide comprehensive workplace training, especially if you have employees or other staff in positions or environments at high risk of injury.

So, how can you prevent workplace injuries?

Identify the Risk

Some risks, such as spills, are easy to identify. But other risks, like faulty machinery or equipment, fly under the radar and are harder to catch.  It’s important to do preventative checks on the tools of your business’ trade to ensure they’re working at peak efficiency.

Report the risk

Once you’ve identified the potential for workplace injury or accident, it’s time to report it. Reporting the potential hazard is the only way the risk can be eliminated. And by doing so, you’ll not only make sure your workplace is safe for your employees, you’ll protect yourself and your business as well.

Resolve or Eliminate the Risk

After you’ve reported the risk, look for the best way to resolve or eliminate it. Speak with professionals if the risk has far-reaching impact, such as a gas leak, and implement their recommendations. And always follow up to make sure the problem has been satisfactorily resolved.

Safety Meetings

An excellent way to reduce or remove the risk for on the job injury or accidents is by hosting regularly scheduled safety meetings.  Informal, informative and best when kept brief, safety meetings give employees an opportunity to stay current on workplace best practices, raise safety awareness and address any current issues they may have.

The Bottom Line

Every business owner knows they’re at risk for loss as the result of workplace safety. Investing time and effort before an injury occurs helps your business

  • Improve employee morale
  • Avoid legal penalties
  • Increase productivity
  • Attract top talent
  • Improve employee retention

When it comes to your business, workplace safety can significantly impact your bottom line. If you have questions about your business’ workplace safety, speak with Southwestern Ontario’s workplace safety specialists today. The knowledgeable staff at Employment Professionals Canada can help. When it comes to workplace safety, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.