by Jennifer M. Smith, Esq.

Employers are continually looking at ways to reduce their exposure for work place injuries and lost work time. One method employed by many companies is implementing safety incentive programs. But, as the recent Business Insurance article “Right Ways to Use Safety Incentives” points out, the type of incentive program and the method of implementing the program can determine whether it is successful.

According to the article, a frequent mistake by companies is not conducting a thorough assessment of injury history, existing hazards and receptiveness of employees before implementation. Although this can cost more money at the onset, it can be essential in developing the groundwork for an effective program and therefore saves money in the long run. These assessments can focus the employer’s resources on areas in need of safety improvement and effective methods to incentivize employees.

Additionally, companies can consider setting up a program that rewards proactive safety behaviors rather than the more common method of rewarding injury-free time. Rewarding employees based on how long they have worked without an injury or without any lost time can encourage employees not to report injuries, leading to more serious injuries and therefore more expensive claims down the road. Rather, consider contributions by employees for improvements to the overall safety performance of the company, demonstrations of safe practices and reporting hazards and close calls. This type of program has been found to be more effective of changing behaviors in a positive way.