Businesses across the UK work to prevent, mitigate or avoid workplace injuries. There are strict laws that govern worker safety. Many employers go above and beyond to ensure the safety of their employees. more than 500.000 workers were injured at work during 2021-22. In the same period, 123 workers lost their lives. This represents 0.02% all workplace accidents.
Even though workplace injuries are rare, they can have a significant impact on the injured person as well as the company. The estimated cost of non-fatal workplace injuries exceeds the 7.5 billion pounds. Costs to businesses include productivity, reputation, and money. Injured workers may suffer permanent damage and have to spend a lot of time recovering. Here are some hidden costs a business could face if an accident occurs at work.
Reduced Productivity
The hidden costs associated with a workplace injury are not directly calculable but can still be significant. An employee’s removal from the workplace due to a serious workplace injury is possible. This can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity. Some workers may return to their jobs but not perform as well. This’manpower shortage’ reduces operational capacity and leads to a drop in output.
Additional Administration
Your team or department may need to increase its operational power in order to deal with the negative effects of an incident at work. Reports are required, HR procedures should be initiated, and civil actions could be necessary.
This can add to the cost of a company as there may be more than one department devoted to managing accident outcomes. It is impossible to estimate the amount of work needed to examine and overhaul the health and safety policies when the accident was the result of a safety infrastructure gap.
Financial Compensation
Even if the injury is obvious, it is difficult to estimate or calculate the cost. In some cases, a company may be at fault for an accident or injury. The injured party is well within ‘s rights to seek compensation through civil action. It can be expensive in many ways. Legal fees, administrative costs and any settlements or compensation may also be included.
An injury at work can have a long-lasting impact on the workforce, especially if it is severe enough to require an extended absence from work or a complete resignation. This can leave a large gap in the operation of a company, which must be filled either by temporary staff or recruits.
Staff turnover is a costly element of running a small business. Recruitment, marketing and onboarding are all costs. The reduced capacity that results is another cost.
If an employee returns back to work after an injury, he or her may also need additional training in order stay up-to-date with new processes and laws. The company must pay for this extra training.
Client Disruption
All of these can have a lasting effect on a business, especially in terms if clientele. The effects of a workplace incident that requires a shut down can have a significant effect on the product. It can lead to the termination or long-term contracts.
Depending on circumstances, the reputation and the success of a company may be compromised. If the incident is covered by the press, it could be perceived as an organization that doesn’t care about the safety or well-being of their employees. In the worst-case scenario, this could result in a decrease of customer satisfaction and revenue.
Conclusion
Accidents at work are dangerous for both employers and employees. These accidents can affect many areas, including hiring, training and administration. Employers must always put employee safety first and take all necessary steps to reduce workplace injuries.