| By: Scott Peterson, EMC Insurance East Region Loss Control ManagerWhen it comes to workplace loss control, there are many techniques your manufacturing customers can do to make sure they get the most bang for their buck. A great place to start is understanding where losses are currently coming from, so they can target those areas when prioritizing safety resources.
How to Determine Loss Drivers
The best way to do this is to examine claims experience (the agent and carrier should be able to provide the loss runs), looking for trends in frequency (which loss types occur most often) or severity (which loss types are most expensive). Focusing safety resources on the jobs/facilities/areas/causes of losses identified will help ensure the safety investment results in reduced losses and measurable cost savings.
In addition to studying claims experience, it's useful to be familiar with overall loss trends in the manufacturing industry. These are likely similar to the claims the organization is experiencing, and they can be a helpful starting point for newer businesses without an extensive loss history.
Overall Manufacturing Loss Trends
According to EMC's loss data, the most severe causes of loss for manufacturers include: - Overexertion - Ergonomic injuries, especially those related to overexertion, are responsible for a high number of claims in the manufacturing sector. They generally occur when tasks are repetitive (require the same motion over and over), or if they require excessive lifting or awkward postures. They're also common when a workstation isn't a good fit for the employee using it.
- Slips, trips, and falls - Spills, bad weather conditions, and improper ladder usage are all contributing factors to slip, trip, and fall claims. These apply to employees, but also to customers/visitors if any part of the facility is open to the public.
- Struck-by or caught-in accidents - The majority of struck-by accidents are the result of being hit by heavy equipment (such as forklifts) or being struck by falling or flying objects. Caught-in incidents occur when someone is caught between equipment or machinery.
- Auto accidents - Vehicle accidents can lead to employee injuries and loss of dollars, property, and life. One of the most common causes of auto claims and dollars lost are rear-end collisions. There are steps your customers can take to better prepare their drivers for the roads, reduce accidents, and improve overall fleet safety.
Click here to learn more about these causes of loss and what loss control resources EMC recommends for each. You may also be interested in EMC's collection of manufacturing safety topics and EMC's unique coverage options for manufacturers. |