Consequences Of Not Reporting Work Hazards

Workplace injuries can occur in any industry and often result in fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 3 million work-related injuries and illnesses are reported yearly. However, this number is estimated to be much higher, as many workers do not report their injuries or illnesses. This could be due to various reasons, including fear of retaliation from their employer or worry about losing their job. This blog post will discuss the consequences of not reporting workplace hazards.

1. Bandages And Ambulances

Every year, employees die or are hurt at work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that 4,383 workers died due to work injuries in 2012. Some accidents are unavoidable, but others could have been prevented if only the problem had been reported.

Underreporting can occur if employees feel they don’t have the authority to report hazards, particularly in other areas or departments, if they think someone else will notice the problem, or if they fear retaliation for reporting a hazard.

2. See You In Court

Lawsuits are an unfortunate reality when workplace hazards cause injuries or deaths. Even if your company wins a lawsuit, the costs of defending the suit can be steep. A loss can mean the company must pay thousands or millions of dollars to employees, their families, or other affected parties, which can be particularly devastating to small or struggling companies.

Lawsuits also bring unwanted negative publicity and can damage your company’s reputation, which might affect sales or profits.

3. Lost Productivity

When an accident or injury occurs, productivity can suffer. Obviously, the injured employee might be unable to work for days or weeks, but productivity in the entire company also can be affected. If the hazard involves a malfunctioning machine, the machine must be shut down, inspected, repaired, or replaced.

Your company might also need to shut down and inspect similar machines to ensure that the same defect doesn’t affect them. While the machines are shut down, no one can work. Production delays can occur if the shutdown is lengthy, and it might even be necessary to furlough workers.

4. Increased Insurance Costs

If your company is self-insured, that means that it pays for its own workers’ compensation claims. If you have insurance, your premiums will go up if you have a lot of workplace accidents or injuries. Your company also might have trouble finding an insurer willing to provide coverage at a reasonable rate. In either case, not reporting workplace hazards can be costly.

5. Company’s Reputation

Assuming that you work for a company, it is important to report workplace hazards. If you don’t, then the company’s reputation could be damaged. For example, let’s say that there is a loose floorboard in your office and you don’t say anything about it. Then, someone trips on the board and gets injured. The accident news could spread, and people might think your company is unsafe. As a result, your company’s reputation could suffer. Of course, you might be worried about getting into trouble if you report a hazard. However, it is usually better to err on the side of caution. Most companies are grateful to employees who point out potential hazards. So, if you see something that could be dangerous, make sure to speak up!

Other Consequences Of Not Reporting Workplace Hazards

• If you don’t report them, the company may be unaware of the hazard, which could remain unaddressed. This could eventually lead to an accident occurring. In some cases, employees have been injured because of never reported hazards. So, if you see something potentially dangerous, make sure to speak up and alert management so they can take care of it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
• If you don’t report work hazards, the company could lose customers. Not reporting these hazards puts your fellow employees at risk and potentially jeopardizes the company’s relationship with its customers. Don’t be afraid to speak up and report any hazards you see – it could make all the difference.
• If you don’t report work hazards, the company could face closure if the hazard is not dealt with. This is because the company would breach health and safety regulations.
• If you don’t report work hazards, employees could lose their jobs if the company has to close down. OSHA requires that employers provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Reporting workplace hazards is one way to help make sure that your workplace is safe.