How Ergonomics Can Help Reduce Your Claims and Liability
Whether you are employing someone for clerical work or physical labor—full time, part time, or a family member—you need to carry workers compensation insurance for your business. Without it, your business can be fully liable for any injuries, illnesses, or deaths due to employment with your company. That means you’d be responsible for medical bills and death or other compensation benefits to your employees and/or their surviving families.
More than 229,000 workers were forced to miss time from their jobs in 2019 due to injuries from contact with objects and equipment.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that the most common non-fatal workplace injuries in 2019 fall under these five categories.
- Overexertion and bodily reaction
- Falls, slips, and trips
- Contact with objects or equipment
- Violence and other injuries caused by persons or animals
- Transportation accidents
The Connection Between Ergonomics and Workers Compensation
Ergonomics plays a large role in the health and wellness of your staff—and keeping your business fully operational. The truth is that when you are even one person down, your business suffers. Other employees must compensate for the lost person, making them less productive as well.
The BLS reports the following occupations (in order from most to least) with the most workplace non-fatal injuries and illnesses.
- Health care and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food services
- Transportation and warehousing
- Construction
- Wholesale trade
- Administrative and waste services
- Professional and technical services
In addition to these top occupations for work-related illnesses and injuries are the following industries: arts, entertainment, recreation, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, real estate, rental/leasing, educational services; information, finance and insurance, management of companies and enterprises, utilities, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.
26% of all non-fatal work injuries in 2019 resulting in days missed from work were due to slips, trips, and falls.
The key to business continuity and high-capacity production is watching out for your employees’ safety while working for your business. Even the smallest repetitive motions can cause exacerbated health issues over time, costing your company thousands of dollars plus lost time and re-hiring and re-training costs.
So, How Much Does Workers Compensation Cost?
According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), these are some sample rates for workers compensation for various job classifications. These rates are based on an employer with no losses or claims. An employer with previous workers compensation claims or losses can expect to pay as much as five times these rates.
Job Description Rate per $100 Annual Pay Annual Cost per Employee
Clerical/Office $0.12 $28,000 $33.60
Landscaping $6.94 $36,000 $2,498.40
Retail Store $1.33 $30,000 $399
Medical Office $0.30 $40,000 $120
Restaurant $1.50 $30,000 $450
Painter $8.99 $32,000 $2,876.80
Factors that can affect your annual workers compensation rate include the following:
- Your state
- Your industry
- Annual payroll
- Claims history
How McClure Ergonomics Helps Keep Your Workers Compensation Costs Down
At McClure Ergonomics, we specialize in providing essential analytics and reporting to help maintain employee health, keep your business operating efficiently, and save you money in the long run in compensation claims and insurance costs through a variety of services:
We have found that when employers take the time and invest a little money to be proactive about their company working conditions, they end up with a happier, healthier, more productive staff. And they save money in the long run too.
Want to keep your workers compensation costs low?
Schedule your ergonomics assessment with McClure Ergonomics Consulting.
We’ll assess your risk and create an action plan to keep your workers safe—and your business as fully operational as possible.