Safety is important on the manufacturing floor, but do you realize just how costly a workplace injury can be? For business owners, injuries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even a single injury can have a significant impact on the bottom line.
Most companies don't have a high profit margin. In fact, 3% is about average. Expenses take a large chunk of income, and competition limits how much companies can charge for their products. So, when an accident occurs, the cost of the injury must be subtracted from profits.
Consider this example: At a 5% profit margin, a company would need to generate an extra $20,000 in sales to compensate for a $1,000 injury. If the profit margin is closer to 1%, the company would need to generate an additional $100,000 in sales to maintain the same profit level.
As you can see, that adds up to a lot of extra sales just to compensate for a single injury. That means that every time a worker gets hurt on the job, other employees are affected too. You may need to work extra hours to achieve necessary production levels to compensate for those losses, or the company may be forced to make tough budget decisions, such as cutting hours or laying off employees. Also, recovering from an injury can mean time away from work, reduced compensation, painful rehabilitation and frustrating adjustments to daily life.
That's why it's so important to practice prevention on the manufacturing floor. Every employee has a role to play in keeping themselves and their coworkers safe. By following all safety procedures and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, we can limit on-the-job accidents and create a safer workplace for everyone.
Here are some specific things you can do to help prevent workplace injuries:
- Be aware of your surroundings and identify potential hazards.
- Report any unsafe conditions to your supervisor immediately.
- Follow all safety procedures and use all required personal protective equipment.
- Be mindful of your own fatigue and take breaks when needed.
- Be willing to help others and look out for each other's safety.
By working together, we can create a safer and more productive manufacturing workplace.