6 tips for supporting employee safety beyond the workplace

You invest significant resources in keeping your employees safe on the job, but did you know your employees are statistically much more likely to be injured at home?

It’s true! According to the National Safety Council, just 7.1% of preventable medically consulted injuries happen on the job, while as many as 57.3% happen at home.

It makes sense when you think about it. Workplaces tend to train employees on safety, enact proper procedures, inspect for dangers, service machinery, and hold safety meetings. But at home, where there’s no safety officers or protocols, injuries are much more likely.

As an employer, you care about the well-being of your employees, and you count on them to show up every day ready to work. You also know injured employees impact your bottom line, with injuries costing employers $167.0 billion each year and increasing the likelihood of workers’ compensation claims. That’s why it’s important to promote safety not just at work, but also at home.

In honor of National Safety Month, let’s explore six tips for helping employees stay safer at home.

1. Provide first aid training

Help employees know what to do when injuries and ailments happen by providing first aid training at work. Proper training from medical professionals can help employees know how to handle a spectrum of situations, from cuts, burns or strains to more severe conditions like chokng or heart-related emergencies. 

2. Raise awareness

Falls are the most common injury in the United States, accounting for 33% of nonfatal injuries. You can help employees avoid falls at home by raising awareness about safety steps they can take, such as handrail recommendations, loose carpet awareness, and balance tips. The Washington National Insurance Company Preventing accidents guidebook is a free resource for raising awareness about how to prevent the most common accidents and injuries at home.

3. Give employees first aid kits

Investing in a well-stocked first aid kit may not be a financial priority for employees, but it’s important to be prepared with supplies to treat cuts, burns, bruises, and aches and pains. Giving employees first aid kits to take home is a simple way to show you care about their safety.

4. Enact an anonymous drug disposal system

Did you know that poisoning is the number one cause of preventable injury death in the United States? One way you can help mitigate this risk is to enact a safe and anonymous drug disposal system in your workplace. This can help get dangerous drugs out of employees’ homes and disposed of safely, no questions asked.

Learn how employers can support remote workers amid rise in substance use disorder.

5. Host health fairs

Annual health fairs can help educate workers on how to make healthier choices at home. Experts can educate employees on how to prepare healthy recipes, how to avoid foodborne illnesses, how to stop smoking, and how to safely store household chemicals. Invite employees’ families to attend to get everyone involved in a healthier future.

6. Offer supplemental health insurance

Supplemental health insurance products like accident insurance, hospital insurance, and critical illness insurance help employees seek the care they need, when they need it, while protecting them from out-of-pocket costs.

Supplemental health insurance pays cash benefits directly to employees in the event of critical illness, injury, or hospitalization. Employees can use cash benefits for any purpose, including medical bills and everyday living expenses.

Want more? Check out our blog, 5 wellness program initiatives to consider in 2024.

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