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One easy way to keep claims and premiums low on your New Jersey workers compensation insurance is do a regular workplace safety assessment.

Step one. Determine Hazards.

• Walk around your workplace and look at what may potentially cause harm. Ask your workers. Often they can pick out a problem that you may have overlooked. Use all your senses not just your eyes. Note the noise level, run your fingers over surfaces and sniff out offensive odors.

Step two. Determine who might be harmed and how.

• Take note of how groups of workers are doing their jobs. Are stock workers lifting correctly, are unpackers leaving litter on the floor? Remember the purpose of this exercise isn’t to finger point, but to keep your workplace a safe environment.

Step three. Assess the risks and decide what to do.

• Simply compare your risks with sound safety practices and make sure your workplace is up to standard.

Step four. Record and implement your assessments

• Recording the results of your risk assessment and sharing them with your workers is a positive step. It encourages everyone to keep the working environment a safe place.

Step five. Review and update.

• As a business owner, you’ll be aware of how easy it is to forget reviews until there is a problem, and then it’s too late. If there’s an injury and a claim on your New Jersey business insurance, then everyone loses. A way to avoid this situation is to establish a date where regular reviews will take place and make it a habit.