Creating a Safety Culture Is Critical to Reducing Losses

How well do your financial institution clients balance the elements of a positive “safety culture” that reduces injuries and costs?

Creating a “safety culture” is tricky business; it’s a delicate balance between understanding the motivations of your employees, developing an environment of trust, and an open pipeline of communication – sometimes anonymously – to ensure continuous feedback on how you’re doing.

In addition to the natural human response to injuries in the workplace, there are costs involved in managing an employee injury. Time is redirected from daily business for documentation and filing paperwork; communication with the injured worker, claims adjusters, and healthcare providers; reallocating work and potentially adjusting work schedules. In addition, the workplace experiences a general disruption from the injury and aftermath, and there may be an impact to employee morale. And, of course, claims also impact workers compensation insurance costs in the future.
Getting Close to No Injuries Is Better Than None at All

A culture of safety means an employee’s well-being comes first and the hope is that such an environment leads to fewer injuries. However, OSHA cautions against a narrow focus on “zero-injury” campaigns, which can create incentives to under-report injuries, mistakes and near misses for fear of costing the team a bonus incentive. In fact, OSHA recently invstigated an employer who took disciplinary action against a railroad conductor after he reported a knee injury. Click here for the full story.

Tools for Creating a Safety Culture

Employers should encourage injury reporting as well as near misses and unsafe conditions to proactively help prevent injuries. These recent articles on ehstoday.com help to shed light on the steps to take in creating a more safety minded workplace. Click on the title for access to the articles.

“How To Motivate Employees Through the Language of Workplace Safety” .

“Safety Culture – It’s About the People”

We also have a full library of loss control topics on our website that you can share with your financial institution clients.

Make Sure Your Clients Are Protected

When losses do occur make sure your financial institution clients are protected. Contact any one of the FI experts at Berkley FinSecure listed below for the protection you and your clients need.

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