Minnesota residents who work in the manufacturing sector may face a higher level of danger compared to other workers. According to data from the Department of Labor, there are roughly 10,000 severe injuries that occur in U.S. workplaces each year. The manufacturing sector is responsible for 57 percent of those that result in amputation and 26 percent of the injuries that result in hospitalization.
Among the ways that companies in the sector can improve worker safety is to create a series of best practices. For example, there should be guards or body shields that can help protect a worker against falling or being crushed by a moving object. Workers should also be trained as to how they can safely work with live electrical sources and other live power sources.
In addition to creating these best practices, they should be easy for workers to implement. Otherwise, it is not clear if a worker will actually use the resources or tools provided. Managers should be tasked with creating a safety culture and putting at least as much emphasis on safety as on output. Otherwise, workers will simply do whatever it takes to get a good performance review and the perks that may come with it. Once safety expectations are created, managers and employees should work together to ensure that they are met on a regular basis.
People who are injured on the job will likely be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These could include a percentage of lost wages while recovering as well as the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses. Many injured workers find that having the help of an attorney when preparing and filing their claims is beneficial.