According to the National Safety Council, workplace injuries cost Americans $163.9 billion in 2020 alone: $44.8 billion in lost wages and productivity; $34.9 billion in medical expenses; and $61 billion in administrative expenses. Fortunately, the cost of preventing these incidents can be as little as … zero! Insurance companies, government bodies and even private safety training companies are keen on keeping workplace injuries—and their subsequent costs—to a minimum. In fact, there’s a treasure trove of online, free job site safety resources, yours for the taking. Here are five of our favorite finds:
1. OSHA’s Compliance Assistance Quick Start
This interactive, step-by-step guide contains hundreds of OSHA resources, specific to industries such as construction and healthcare. Users are encouraged to select documents that apply to their job site based on parameters like hazardous materials present on site, use of concrete or masonry products, and even the need for Spanish-language training resources.
2. Your trade association
You pay dues—shouldn’t you take advantage of all your trade association has to offer? Associated Builders and Contractors’ STEP Program, for example, is a “world-class safety management system that dramatically improves safety performance” and is “free to start”. Browse your trade association’s website or check with your local chapter for safety resources that are included in your annual membership fee.
3. Your insurance company
Insurance companies often have a plethora of free safety resources—even if you aren’t insured through them. CNA’s PrepWise program, for example, offers an impressive breadth and depth of risk control information by industry, risk type and more. Resources span beyond job site safety into other helpful topics like business resilience and general cost-saving measures.
This website was created by a former Health and Safety Manager to address his own challenge: His previous employer required two safety talks each day—and he needed topics to fill the slots! Browse more than 250 free safety topic articles, complete with questions designed to prompt employee discussion.
OSHA Training Services offers paid training courses, but the company’s free Toolbox Talks are a great place to start. Each topic/print-out comes complete with a page to document the topic, trainer, date and employees present at the talk for OSHA requirements and your own personal records.
Safety training, education and preparedness will take you a long way when it comes to keeping costs down and headaches at bay. In the event that you do have a job site accident, On Site Medical offers a variety of services to get your employees back to health—while keeping your costs and liability to a minimum. Enroll today.