Does your business have the proper amount of workers’ compensation? Unless you are eligible for a legal exception, all businesses in New York State are required to carry this type of insurance. It is designed to kick in after an accident on the job to cover the expenses related to necessary medical care for the injured employee. It also covers the wages lost by the injured worker. If an accident results in death, it could also pay the families of the deceased death benefits.
Based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, trade, transportation, and utilities industries saw the highest number of workplace fatalities in New York during 2010, while health care and social assistance reported the most nonfatal injuries and illnesses. While these occupations may have topped the charts based on the number of on-the-job accidents, it is important to remember all industries have the potential of being dangerous.
What sort of safety precautions do you have in place? After implementing them, did you see a substantial decrease in the amount of accidents at your business? You may be able to further reduce the incidents on the premises by holding regular safety training sessions and encouraging an open dialog between yourself and your workers. Ensuring the safety of your employees could help your business not only avoid workers’ comp claims, but also avoids losing the expert skills of essential staff members.
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