Workplace injuries are a serious consideration for employers and employees alike. Injuries result not just in direct costs such as hospital fees and compensation, but a loss of productivity and overtime paid to those who fill in while the injured employee recovers.

As recently as 2002, the annual direct cost of injuries to employees was $40.1 billion. When indirect costs are added the total reaches a staggering $240 billion.

To put this in perspective, there are roughly 150-160 million workers in the US. That puts the average cost per worker around $1,600.

How do you combat the expense of work-related injuries? Simple: prevent injuries by training employees to recognize and avoid hazards. Hazard training can reduce the cost of compensation insurance and OSHA fines, increase profitability and wages, and improve employee morale.

OSHA’s Office of Regulatory Analysis estimates that companies that implement effective safety and health plans can reduce injury and illness rates by 20% or more, and save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested in worker safety.

When looking for a training provider it is important to choose one that helps you track training and allows easy access to records. Doing so will help avoid having to take the same training twice.

Good training can be expensive, but the alternative, as you've learned, can be much more costly.

Safety $ense