Expanding the traditional view of workplace safety beyond industries typically associated with physical risks, like construction and manufacturing, to include all professional settings is key to any risk management program. Every workplace, regardless of its nature, has unique safety challenges and requires tailored injury prevention strategies to mitigate risk.
How Can Workplace Injury Prevention Programs Mitigate Risk and Reduce Healthcare Costs?
Preventing workplace injuries is a top safety priority for any organization in any industry. Clear attention to worker health and safety contributes to a positive workplace culture and operational success. In addition, improving worker safety reduces the kind of complex medical claims that lead to increased health insurance costs.
The Cost of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries are common. In 2020, over 467,000 workers experienced injuries related to overexertion and falls at work. These injuries resulted in an average of 14 days of lost work per worker.
Injuries at work are not simply dangerous and disruptive for employees. The cost of caring for injured workers is significant. In 2021, U.S. workers and employers faced $36.6 billion in direct medical expenses. The average cost for injuries that required medical treatment was $42,000.
The Value of Injury Prevention Programs
Implementing an injury prevention program in the workplace can significantly reduce the number of incidents. One OSHA study showed that injury prevention programs lowered workplace injury and illness incidents from 9% to 60%. This can present a substantial reduction in costs related to workplace incidents.
A Multifaceted Approach
Safety training is one of the core principles of injury prevention, but it’s not the only tool available to employers. Evidence shows that adopting a comprehensive approach to workplace health and safety is more effective than education alone. An article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that the most effective injury prevention programs go beyond merely educating workers and take a multifaceted approach to improving health and safety.
Building the Best Injury Prevention Program for Your Workplace
At Ramp Health, we have 20 years of experience offering comprehensive solutions for improving worker safety and reducing medical costs associated with workplace illness and injury. Our programs have helped clients reduce workers’ compensation costs by up to 30%.
Our services include:
- Preventative Health and Safety Initiatives: Preventive care programs such as injury prevention coaching, biometric screenings, and on-site vaccination clinics
- Injury Response and Management: Immediate care and stabilization for injuries and medical issues, coordination for further medical attention, assistance in post-injury rehabilitation and return-to-work plans
- Mental and Emotional Well-being Support: A holistic approach to mental well-being, combining lifestyle coaching with medical insights.
- Education and Workshops: Workshops on topics including general nutrition, work-life balance, stress reduction, proper body mechanics, injury prevention, and the importance of regular exercise
- Routine Health Monitoring: Regular health monitoring, such as blood pressure and body composition screenings
- Resource and Referral Coordination: Connection to the best possible care, whether it’s a Ramp Health provider or another provider
At Ramp Health, we offer comprehensive, customizable solutions for organizations of all sizes across multiple industries. To learn more about Ramp Health injury prevention services, contact us using our simple web form.