Few business owners doubt that a safe working environment is an essential ingredient for maintaining a healthy, motivated workforce and reducing the costs of business ownership. If any doubters remain, the most recent statistics and expert advice on the subject will likely change their minds.

The Occupational Health Safety Administration (OSHA) reported that businesses spent $171 billion in 2003 on costs associated with injury and illness on the job. These costs accounted for a full 5 percent of some companies' total cost base – a rather staggering amount, according to Jerry Law, editor of Occupational Health and Safety Magazine.

Law points out that when an employee is injured on the job, an employer must deal with the direct costs of the injury, as well as many indirect costs that often times is hard to track. These direct costs are just the tip of the iceberg.

“Indirect costs often dramatically exceed direct costs and are where businesses really see the costs of injury add up,” Law explained. “Workers may have to be retrained to cover the injured employee’s duties or temporary replacements may have to be hired. Regardless of the approach, businesses often suffer a loss in productivity and effectiveness from that position.”

Law also says an injured coworker can be detrimental to morale. Others who work with the injured individual may question whether the company has its employees’ best interests at heart. As a result, they may work less diligently or seek jobs elsewhere.

So what can businesses do to combat employee injury and create a safer, healthier workplace? OSHA reports that companies establishing health and safety management systems reduce injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. The first step in building such a system, according to Law, is fostering a culture of safety.

Many different initiatives can contribute to this environment. For instance, Law stresses the importance of involving a business’ workforce in its safety programs. He recommends establishing a safety committee with rotating members so that all employees have a chance to participate. The committees should discuss ways to upgrade safety and investigate any injuries that do occur, along with any near-misses. Reviewing the steps that caused an accident or a near-miss can be critical to preventing future mishaps.

In addition to workplace issues, Law said OSHA proposes holding company-wide monthly safety meetings to discuss workplace safety initiatives that also cover at-home and on-the-road safety tips. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 9 out of 10 deaths and two-thirds of disabling injuries suffered by American workers in 2002 occurred off the job.

DuPont® is one company that has woven the importance of safety on the job into their corporate fabric. Industry Relations Manager Timothy Dawe said safety on the job began out of necessity, since DuPont started out as a gunpowder manufacturer some 200 years ago. As it diversified into the chemical industry, the safety hallmarks already in place remain relevant. Evidence illustrates that the effort is worth pursuing – Dawe said DuPont’s safety record is 2.5 times better than that of the chemical industry average.

“Safety has always been of paramount importance to us,” said Dawe. “It’s a part of our culture. On or off the job, we maintain a real commitment to identifying safety trends and maintaining a safe environment.”

One of the myriad safety issues on DuPont’s radar screen is driving. Through their Safe Driving Committee, employees take part in an on-roads safety component and a mechanical review of their vehicles.

“In our mechanical review, we will do things like make sure that the employee’s vehicle is up to our safety standards,” said Dawe. “We check to see if the tires have the proper tread, that there are jumper cables and flares in the trunk … things like that.

“In addition, our On-Roads component looks at driver safety. If there’s an accident, a committee reviews the specifics, such as ‘Did the driver signal early enough?’ or ‘Were they driving too close?’ We want to see if these accidents were preventable. As a company that is self-insured, there is good business in doing that. It isn’t just lip service.”

According to Law, DuPont is wise to focus on driving. Law said a staggering number of employee injuries – both on the job and off – are the result of unsafe driving practices. In fact, Law believes automobiles pose the top threat of injury for employees. The NSC reports that motor vehicle crashes are the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of injury death both overall and at work.

To address this growing epidemic, the NSC has dubbed this year’s National Safety Month “Crash-Free June.” During June 2004, local NSC chapters will provide information, education and training programs in hope of stymieing the 2.3 million disabling injuries and 44,000 deaths due to auto accidents in 2002.

“Safety is not only something to worry about at work: An employee injured at home or on the road can affect a company in many of the same ways as an employee injured on the job,” said Law. “Accordingly, companies should work at making employees more safety-conscious at all times.”

Most automobile accidents can be avoided. The NSC estimates that driver behavior contributes to 90 percent of all motor vehicle crashes, and blame only 10 percent of crashes on the vehicle or external factors. Business-wide safety meetings, and safety committees are ideal venues to remind employees about the importance of driving carefully.

DuPont holds monthly safety meetings at each of its facilities worldwide to keep the topic on the top of each employee’s mental checklist. “We want an environment where our employees are safer on the job than they are at home,” said Dawe. “We look at on-the-job safety for employees, identify the greatest potentials for hazard, and try to eliminate those potentials.”

“Helping employees become healthier people is a true win-win situation that benefits the employee as well as his employer,” added Law. “Fortunately, we’ve learned over time that there are several concrete steps that businesses can take to build workplaces that are as safe as possible. And the best companies in every industry do everything they can to promote workplace safety, understanding that it is linked very closely to running a successful business.”

John Harris is a manager at CCC Information Services Inc.

OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier.

The observance of Crash-Free June during National Safety Month in the United States followed the April 7 observance of World Health Day. On that date, the World Health Organization (WHO) led global attention to the issue of road safety. The WHO reports that 1.2 million people die in traffic crashes each year.