To Improve Worker Safety, Some Employers Look at Off-the-Job Risks
Whether it's a quiet office building or a bustling construction site, a New York workplace has to meet stringent state and federal rules for worker safety. These rules cover everything from proper uses of equipment to what workers should wear to protect themselves from injury and employers are usually responsible for making sure a workplace meets safety standards. In order to lower healthcare costs and protect employee safety, however, some employers are looking into off-the-job safety training as well.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), off-the-job safety programs are designed to help employees understand the major risks of injury that occur in their lives when they are not at work. Off-the-job safety programs are usually provided at work, but focus on accidents that occur at home, when out with family or friends, or when commuting.
Statistically speaking, workers are safer in the workplace than out of it, according to the NSC. Ninety percent of deaths and over 75 percent of injuries occur when workers are somewhere other than their jobs. Poisoning, falls, suffocation, and drowning are the most common causes of off-the-job injuries. Off-the-job safety programs focus on these accidents and their most common triggers, helping workers to stay safe in their daily lives and keep them healthy and ready for work.
Workplace injuries can cause more than just pain and suffering, as well as multiple trips to the doctor. They can also result in lost wages or even an inability to keep doing the work you did before. If you or someone you love has been injured while on the job in New York, the experienced Manhattan workplace accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (212) 222-4336.
