Winter slips and falls have negative impact on American businesses

Winter-related slips and falls have a significant negative impact on American businesses each year, resulting in time off work, temporary employee costs, overtime for existing employees and increased insurance costs, said Mike Britt, president of Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. To avoid these costs this winter, employers need to be extra vigilant, and employees should exercise extreme caution in the months ahead, Britt states, adding that in the Midwest states last winter, one-third (29 percent) of workers compensation claims resulted from slips and falls.

As temperatures drop and winter hazards increase, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and the Michigan Workers Compensation Agency (WCA) are reminding employers and employees to exercise caution when working in the cold and snow.

Every employer should have an effective safety and health management system in place to protect its most valuable asset: its employees, said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. As part of this program, they should prepare for winter conditions and provide helpful information to their employees on how to avoid injury and illness.

Worker injuries can negatively affect a businesss bottom line, resulting in increased workers compensation and insurance costs, overtime, and lost work days for employees, said WCA Director Kevin Elsenheimer. By taking the proper safety precautions this winter, job providers can avoid nasty slips and falls that will cost them in the future.

Lower workers' comp costs save employers on overhead expenses and give them additional resources to grow their business, hire new workers, and increase their employees salaries says a press release.

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Winter slips and falls have negative impact on American businesses