Only Half of Employees Feel Their Companies are Prepared for a Severe Emergency
Only half of employees believe their workplaces are prepared for a severe emergency, according to the third annual workplace safety survey by Staples, Inc. Nearly two-thirds of those polled said recent natural disasters have not led to their employers reassessing company safety plans. The survey, in honor of National Safety Month, also reveals that in the past six months nearly half of businesses have closed due to severe weather, costing the economy nearly $50 billion in lost productivity.
Staples' third annual workplace safety survey found that only half of employees believe their workplaces are prepared for a severe emergency and in the past six months nearly half of businesses have closed due to severe weather.
“Safety is a top priority for employers, but there is still more planning and training that can be done to improve safety in the workplace,” said Bob Risk, national safety, health & wellness manager, Staples. “Staples offers the tools businesses of all sizes need to make more safety happen in the workplace, including first aid kits, fire extinguishers, proper signage and more.”
According to the survey, the top three safety concerns for employees are:
• Slips, Trips and Falls: One in five report slipping, tripping or falling at work as their biggest concern. Accidents involving slips, trips and falls send 9 million people to the hospital each year and are a leading cause of workers’ compensation claims, costing an average of approximately $20,000 per accident2.
• Natural disasters and storms: Less than half of employees say their employers have the plans or equipment in place for snow and ice storms, or catastrophic events such as tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes. According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, an estimated 25 percent of businesses do not reopen after a natural disaster3.
• Fire: Fire is one of the most common safety incidents, but most employees feel their companies are well prepared. Three-fourths say their employers have a plan and equipment in place for a fire emergency.
The survey finds workers at businesses with fewer than 50 people are less aware or less sure who is in charge of emergency planning than employees at larger companies. Employees from smaller companies report having less emergency equipment or plans in place, are less likely to do safety reviews or drills, and are less prepared for severe emergencies than their counterparts at bigger organizations.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
