Do you ever wonder what the actual cost of safety is to your business? Is it limited to the cost of training or Personal Protective Equipment, like a pair of work gloves or safety glasses?

Compare the cost of prevention to the cost of replacing an injured worker. Now how much has it cost your business? How much would an injured worker cost in reduced productivity? Safety does not always have an obvious price. Proper equipment and training need to be the priority so the safety and productivity of workers can be maintained.

The cost of safety is never purely financial, as the human cost must always be considered. Injured workers can lose their mobility, functionality, and motivation, depending on the type of accident—all of which directly affects their lives, family, friends, and coworkers.

Imagine an incident where an employee is working with a chemical that splashes into their eyes. What if the damage isn’t temporary but changes the way the employee must work for the rest of their life? Would not it have been better for the employee to wear a $15.00 pair of safety glasses to avoid the lost time, wages, pain, and life-changing loss of sight?

There is no simple answer to how much safety costs, and it doesn’t compare to the losses resulting from workplace injuries. The price of prevention is relatively low when running a business, and cutting corners or putting the budget above the welfare of your employees doesn’t usually end well.

How much is it worth to keep your employees safe?

Rick Means, Director of Safety and Education, is available to help members with safety. Contact Rick at 360-943-9198, Ext. 118 or [email protected].