Starting a Safety Program for Small Business

The purpose of a safety program is to involve employees in achieving and maintaining a safe, healthful workplace. This program will have a safety committee that will discuss and find solutions to problems that can cause accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Fewer accidents, injuries, and illnesses will lower your workers compensation costs and insurance premium rates and can increase your profit.

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The purpose of a safety program is to involve employees in achieving and maintaining a safe, healthful workplace. This program will have a safety committee that will discuss and find solutions to problems that can cause accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Fewer accidents, injuries, and illnesses will lower your workers compensation costs and insurance premium rates and can increase your profit.

There are steps that must be taken for a safety committee and program to be an effective one. These steps will include:

In holding weekly safety meetings and if your business has 10 or fewer employees, it would be beneficial to have employees attend safety committee meetings. Low-hazard workplaces such as office settings may substitute monthly meetings for weekly meetings. Discuss what everyone can do to achieve or maintain a safe, healthful workplace. Focus on just one important topic, such as controlling an existing hazard or identifying an unsafe work practice. If you have a construction business, discuss hazards at the site with the general contractor before you begin a job. Then meet regularly with your crew during the job to discuss any new hazards they may encounter and how to control them.

Take minutes because they are the written record of your committees activities and accomplishments. Its an easy but important task. Minutes can be kept in a simple notebook and should be referred to at each new meeting. These minutes will keep track on progress on unfinished issues.

Make sure that employees receive their regular wages while they attend safety committee meetings. This is law.  So if someone comes in to attend from another shift, make sure they receive their pay for the time spent.

​For more information or support, speak with an expert advisor at Chief Insurance Solutions LLC. (866) 308-3351 or info@chiefins.com.