From setting weight loss goals and focusing on fitness, to making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or spending more time with family and friends, many people make New Year’s resolutions to help them begin the new year on a positive note. While you may have set personal goals for 2013, have you considered making any New Year’s resolutions for your business? Help make your business safer and prepared for the unexpected in 2013 with the following New Year’s resolutions:
1. Set your sights on safety. Make workplace safety a priority this year. From identifying any current workplace safety hazards, to implementing a safety program, there are many precautions you can take to help prevent workplace accidents. Depending on the industry, there are a variety of safety hazards that may be present in the workplace, including electrical cords on the ground, wet and slippery floors, chemical hazards, and inadequate lighting. Similarly, depending on the climate, working in extreme temperatures can also present safety hazards, like fatigue and heat stress from working outside on a summer day, for instance. To help promote workplace safety, first identify and eliminate any safety hazards you discover. If you can’t eliminate the danger, create warnings such as “Wet Floor” signs and labels on all chemicals. It’s important to provide your employees with adequate training for safely handling these hazards, as well as any necessary personal protective equipment like glasses, boots and reflective vests.
A safety program is another essential component to creating an accident-free workplace. Implementing a safety program will not only help you protect your employees on the job, but it can also ultimately help you lower your workers’ compensation premium, increase productivity and reduce overall claims costs. For additional information on creating a quality safety program, click here to download and review OSHA’s Four-Point Safety Program.
2. Prepare for the unexpected with an emergency preparedness plan. According to FEMA, up to 40 percent of businesses affected by a natural or human-caused disaster never reopen. Establishing an emergency preparedness plan can help you prevent your business from falling victim to this statistic in the event that disaster strikes. It’s a good idea to analyze different hazards and risks, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, widespread serious illness, acts of violence and acts of terrorism, and develop preparedness plans accordingly. FEMA has identified program management, planning, implementation, testing and exercises, and program improvement as the five steps in developing a preparedness program. For additional information on this five-step plan and other precautions you can take to prepare your business for an unexpected disaster, please visit www.ready.gov/business.
3. Review your insurance coverage to make sure it’s up-to-date and adequate. A lot can change within a business over the course of the year, and it’s important to update your insurance agent as these changes occur, since they may affect your coverage. Did you increase or reduce staff this year? Buy or replace any vehicles and add any new drivers? Expand your office or change locations? Purchase any new equipment or tools? Create a website? Although some of these changes may seem minor, they may affect your coverage needs so it’s important to contact your insurance agent to ensure that you still have adequate coverage to protect all of your business’s operations.
At Eaton & Berube Insurance, our agents are here to make sure your business remains protected. For additional information and safety resources, please subscribe to our blog or contact us. To get a free quote for NH business insurance, please call us today at 603-882-2766 or click here to submit our online quote request form.