Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of injuries and fatalities. Many of these crashes occur on the job.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the employees involved in work-related accidents include truck drivers, those working in high-risk occupations and drivers who work in real estate, healthcare and sales. Many of these crashes are preventable, and employers can play a role in reducing them.
Information and stats about job-related accidents
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the majority of vehicle accidents occur during the workday, and they result in billions of dollars in damages and lost productivity every year. When there are injuries associated with crashes, the average cost to employers is $74,000, and if a crash results in fatalities, the average cost is around $500,000.
Prevention strategies
The Network for Employers for Traffic Safety outlined a 10-step program that employers can enact to help prevent accidents on the job. The first step is to involve senior management and make sure that they create and promote a safety culture in the workplace.
Management should place written policies strategically around the workplace that lay out traffic safety policies and outline consequences for not adhering to them. Every employee that drives for their job should sign a driving agreement, and employers should screen employees for poor driving records. Additional steps include:
- Establishing a crash reporting and investigation process
- Inspecting, maintaining and repairing vehicles
- Having a corrective action program
- Developing a reward program for safe driving
- Providing driver training
- Adhering to highway safety regulations
For a complimentary and no obligation consultation about injuries sustained on the job, contact the workers’ compensation specialists. Give them a call at 610-601-5399 or contact them online.