The number of accidents across the manufacturing industry is much lower today than in decades past. Yet, the unfortunate truth is that many on-the-job accidents can still be avoided by focusing on safe practices and taking necessary precautions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading contributor to sick days is back pain, which costs businesses in both workers and productivity. In fact, a recent CDC study revealed back injuries cost employers $1,685 per employee every year. On a national level, this equates losses north of $225 billion annually.

More and more companies are enlisting the support of staffing agencies to meet their personnel needs for a variety of reasons, including increased workloads and high employee turnover rates. This is especially true in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Repetitive motion injuries are temporary or permanent injuries to muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons caused by performing the same motion over and over again. Also known as repetitive stress injuries, they occur most commonly in the hands, fingers, thumbs, and wrists, but can also happen in the back, neck, knees and feet.

More and more companies today are powering their commercial fleet with alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). While these alternative options can reduce emissions and operating costs, many employees have never handled natural gas in this capacity. Accordingly, there are safety measures and training protocols to carefully consider.

As an employer, you’re tasked with the challenge of ensuring high-quality, yet affordable follow-up care in the event an employee suffers a work-related injury. That’s where telemedicine can help. Telemedicine allows employees to receive virtual, non-urgent medical services after they’ve been injured on the job. Such an option can give your employees quick and easy access to the care and information they need — and may lower your workers’ compensation costs in the process.

You may have noticed that product liability litigation has become more and more common in recent years. Even when a business does everything possible to ensure that its products are safe for the public, mishaps can still occur without warning – leading to costly legal battles and settlements that can easily reach six figures.

Working near power lines is serious business for construction workers. Each year, workers are needlessly hurt on the job because they fail to use caution when digging in the vicinity of power lines. Electricity – whether above-ground or underground – is a powerful force, and using caution is the best way to avoid injury or death.

If you run a small business, you may be surprised to learn that the average cost of an employment-related lawsuit exceeds $270,000. More surprising is a recent study that revealed over half of all claims filed for employment-related liabilities are against employers with fewer than 50 employees. The same study also indicated that not even 2 percent of small businesses have employment practices liability (EPL) coverage.

When conducting road construction or repair work, it’s up to roadside workers to protect the public and themselves from dangerous accidents. Unfortunately, when a motorist is confused, distracted or driving recklessly, a roadside construction zone has the potential to become deadly.

Many contractors assume an environmental claim will be covered under their commercial general liability (CGL) policy. The unfortunate reality is that most CGLs contain pollution exclusions that leave contractors uninsured in the event of a pollution incident. Thankfully, contractors are increasingly turning to Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) Insurance to ensure they have the right coverage in place to remain secure and profitable.

If your company maintains a fleet – whether it be a handful of cars or dozens of commercial vehicles – you’re well aware of the positive impact efficient fleet management can have on your bottom line. But managing a fleet and drivers can be a challenge, particularly given the potential for accidents, employee injuries, liability concerns and increased costs associated with vehicle upkeep.

In today’s business environment, safety-related costs can be the difference between reporting a profit or a loss. In fact, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplaces that establish safety and health management systems can reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. An effective safety program can also improve productivity and increase employee morale on the road.

With ample public information about fall hazards widely available, preventing residential construction workers from falling off roofs should be simple. Yet, injuries and deaths continue to mount. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 40 workers are killed each year as a result of falls from residential roofs—the number one cause of workplace deaths in construction.

Detecting workplace hazards and preventing accidents is a responsibility that falls on every employee of an organization. This is especially true as businesses across the country resume operations in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

As more and more American workers return to their jobs following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, businesses need to rethink their daily operations to ensure the safety of their employees and the general public. This is no different for construction firms, where multiple contractors and tradespeople on a job site may be working in the same space at any one time.