With relatively few employees, SMEs are particularly vulnerable to accidents at work. Staying safe is a matter of survival. Small businesses are aware of the hazards and risks and implement practical solutions to prevent accidents.
Health and safety in small firms have to be a major concern both for the head of the company and for its employees.
To prevent accidents at work
is first of all to avoid a human drama, personal and family,
is to avoid considerable costs to the company and society as a whole,
is to prevent the loss of inestimable capital, human capital,
is to preserve that which is most valuable to the small company, the person, the know-how, the skill, all of its creative potential embodied in its employees,
is to guarantee a better working environment and thus better competitiveness,
is, finally, to establish a relationship of confidence between the head of the company, its employees, and its customers.
To assure a safe and healthy working environment in the company. It is simply a question of survival for the small companies in Europe, which, on average, employ between 3 and 4 people.
Citation from Hans-Werner Müller
Secretary General of UEAPME
|
Indeed, the human and material costs of an industrial accident are high and include:
sickness compensation, the payment of overtime, temporary replacement personnel, early retirement, new recruits, recycling of personnel;
lost time and production;
damage to the company, stocks, equipment, and products;
time required for the management of accidents;
increase of insurance premiums, legal expenses;
reduction of the morale of the workers.
Some accidents have long-term effects that have repercussions on the physical capacity of the victims both at work and in their non-working lives.
Practical case: example of the calculation of costs for an accident that occurred in a garage (Belgian example)
The order book is full. The garage is buzzing when a barrel for waste oil recovery unfortunately falls on the foot of one of the mechanics. The oil spills out over the floor. The other mechanics help the victim. While one takes the victim to a doctor, the two others clean up most of the mess. To meet the delivery times promised to the customers, the two “healthy” mechanics work 4 hours overtime each day for 4 days. In addition, the owner loses 4 customers because, for lack of time, he cannot guarantee that their vehicles will be repaired on time. The 4 customers take their cars to another garage in the area.
What will this accident cost the garage owner?
The victim (part of the wages not covered by insurance) €241
The other mechanics (time lost in cleaning) €17
The employer €74
First aid €17
Loss of services €516
Material damage €25
Loss of production €1235
TOTAL €2125
What will this accident cost his insurance company?
Medical and other expenses €75
Temporary disability €395
TOTAL €470
(source: Pro-safe.be)
|