The world of workplace injury procedure is changing. As we move closer to a fully digital industry, companies must consider their ability to contribute to meaningful support to employees. Workplace injury prevention strategies for small‑to‑medium businesses (SMBs) provide a way to mitigate risk to employees while also contributing to workplace efficiencies.
Prevention is less expensive and far more compelling for a company than treating an injury. Note that, as a business, the loss of an employee for an extended amount of time means reduced productivity, frustrated employees who are pulling up the slack, disappointed customers, and inefficiencies in operations. Preventing injury, then, is core to running your business.
There are many ways to reduce workplace injuries, and many of them are standard recommendations. Yet, consider these five strategies that can help your organisation minimise risk and create healthier employees over the long term.
1. Implement a Comprehensive Wellness Program
An effective wellness program incorporates both physical and mental health wellness. It provides a way for employees to receive real‑time support when they have an injury and stress‑reduction tools to help them prevent getting that injury.
This could prove vital if the Occupational Health and Safety legislation proposed to improve connectivity and real‑time data exchange goes into place. It could mean a greater focus on providing digital health solutions for employees and creating preventative strategies.
For example, organisations that put in place physiotherapy clinics, such as the Health Stack platform, provide employees with real‑time support when they need it. However, the platform also incorporates aid for nutrition, exercise, mental health guidance, and holistic and stress‑reduction strategies, healing the whole person.
2. Implement Improved Safety Training
One of the most important and proven strategies for reducing workplace risk is to train people in avoidance strategies. Employees must be able to identify hazards, manage tasks in a way expected, and work to prevent injuries. They also must know how to respond to fast‑changing and crisis situations.
Safety training programs should include:
- Health and safety induction for new hires to onboard them with the necessary tools
- Job‑specific training for tasks they will engage in
- Refresher courses over time to maintain skills
3. Put In Place a Workplace Injury Rehabilitation Program
Another cost‑saving strategy that can benefit most businesses is to have an in‑place workplace injury rehabilitation program. This program is more than just a way to treat injuries. Instead, it should focus on providing recovery skill training.
At Health Stack, the LOAD IT rehabilitation model empowers recovery and prevents future risks, ensuring that employers are not continuously paying for re‑injury because an employee does not heal properly. Australia’s work-related injury rate is just 3.5%, a third of what the global standard is. Yet, re‑injury is a concern when effective support and management has not been initially implemented.
Invest in a physiotherapy clinic that provides workplace injury rehabilitation at the forefront. If an injury occurs, a hands‑on, solution‑based platform can help not just treat that injury but solve the underlying problem.
4. Incorporate Mental Health in the Workplace Wellness Program
A safe work environment is not just one that is physically safe but one that minimises physical and mental health risks. Psychological hazards in the workplace include overworking, lack of support for stressful situations, poor communication about roles, and perceived harassment.
Employee mental wellbeing directly contributes to an employee’s ability to function effectively on the job. A wellness program should focus on mindfulness and meditation, stress management resources, and emotional intelligence training, for example, to foster mental wellbeing. If your workplace safety prevention strategy does not include a mental health aspect, it could be of limited benefit to your employees.
5. Adopt Technology and Automation to Facilitate Safe Spaces
Having a workplace injury procedure in place is important. Using technology to handle tough tasks or physically demanding work is another way to reduce workplace injury risk. Do not overlook the importance of providing ways for employees to get the support they need.
For example, incorporating virtual reality can make challenging skills easier to manage. Providing employees with access to telehealth support for wellness checkups takes this to a new level. This could include preventive care and tools such as healthy eating resources and online workplace fitness that enable employees to become engaged and remain healthy.
Explore our Health Stack, which is helping SMBs create a comprehensive and well‑rounded wellness program that reduces workplace stress and injury risk. Wellness programs like this are a fraction of the cost of lost productivity, employee skills, and brand reputation. Set up a demo with Health Stack now to see the difference.
