5 Ways to Reduce Workers’ Compensation Claims on Your Farm

From hard physical labor in the hot sun to the dangers of insects and machinery, the agricultural industry is one of the most hazardous for workers. In an average year, the U.S. agriculture production industry experiences more than 21,000 injuries that require a day off from work, according to the CDC. The most common injuries are slips, trips, and falls; animals and insects; object handling; and strain.  Growers who invest in better safety measures can not only help protect their workforce but also better shield their businesses from the rising costs of workers’ compensation claims.

SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM

OSHA breaks down its recommended practices for creating a safe workplace into five key steps:

• Management Leadership
• Employee Participation
• Hazard Identification
• Hazard Control
• Education and Training

Here are a few ways produce growers can apply these practices:

1.     Start at the top: Adopt a safety mindset and make it a part of the company’s culture. Develop an executive strategy that promotes a commitment to change, focused communication, active participation, and aligned accountability.

This process includes:

• Establishing a written policy and communicating it to all workers as well as anyone else involved in the business
• Developing measurable goals with which to measure performance against
• Allocating time and financial resources to implement and allow participation
• Establishing roles and responsibilities throughout the chain of command
• Providing open means of communication that staff feel comfortable using

Ingrain this mindset into the company’s values, post these values in public places around the work site, and make it a part of your onboarding and training.

2.     Keep workers involved: A program can’t be successful if the team doesn’t embrace and follow it. Encourage participation and include workers in ongoing program development and execution. Have a clear process for reporting incidents and providing feedback to ensure employees can easily obtain safety information relevant to their jobs and worksites, such as training schedules, tool and chemical usage and safety guidelines, and safety data. Remove participation barriers such as language or reading levels.

3.     Know the hazards: Pinpoint safety and health issues by evaluating available information, such as inspection reports, safety data sheets and injury records, and by inspecting work sites regularly. Craft a plan for proper investigation of injury and near-miss incidents that identifies and communicates root causes and solutions to avoid similar situations in the future. Also, identify potential emergency hazards, such as a chemical spill or extreme weather, and pre-plan and practice for how those situations will be managed.

4.     Be proactive: Once potential hazards are identified, implement control measures to minimize associated safety and health risks. These may include eliminating the hazard entirely (such as a dead tree), replacing the hazard (such as a faulty ladder), removing workers from the hazard, changing work procedures (such as a dangerous stacking pattern), and providing PPE. Implement and train for emergency hazard procedures. And be sure to monitor progress and adherence and make updates to processes as needed.

5.     Train for success: All employees — from managers to hourly workers and temps — should undergo safety training, including holistic procedures, best practices specific to their individual roles and locations, and hazard identification.

Training should be conducted regularly. Hold daily meetings so workers can report any potential safety issues they encounter on the job, and the team can address any risks before an incident occurs. These meetings also provide an opportunity to communicate reminders and address any specific safety needs for the day’s tasks.

Ensure workers know how to use the tools and equipment necessary for their jobs, and how to complete those jobs safely.

STEPS TO PROMOTE HEALTH

When developing a top-down strategy for safety and health, you can also consider additional management strategies that may improve the work environment. These include:

• Work site management: Proactive procedures to prevent hazardous behavior, such as substance abuse policies, loss control measures, and proper ergonomics.
• Employee management: Safe employee management starts before they’re hired. Is the job candidate receptive to your safety culture? Are they willing to follow procedures and take training seriously? Where allowed, use third-party screenings and pre-hire physicals to assess if a prospective employee has the physical and functional capability to do the job and to rule out certain duties with greater risks.
• Information management: Leverage company information and data to help evaluate hazards, establish procedures, and monitor compliance. Evaluate cost allocation and establish cost reduction targets.

Proactive investment in worker safety is critical to protecting the health and well-being of the people who keep your business running. Building a culture of safety can help protect your employees while potentially reducing the ever-rising costs of workers’ compensation claims.