A large majority of companies in Minnesota and across the United States see public disclosure as important to improving safety on the job. The results of a survey carried out by a provider of operational software and information services show that more than three-quarters of respondents see public disclosure as positive for workplace safety initiatives.
The survey was conducted in May and June 2017 and focused on record-keeping standards and electronic submissions under an upcoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule. Nearly half of the participants said that they plan to use the information collected from similar firms to make benchmarks for their own companies in the realm of safety.
Many executives in the field see a substantial role for technology. Fifty-nine percent of participants noted that web-based forms on the company’s intranet could be a reasonable procedure to report injuries, while 35 percent endorsed the use of a mobile phone app to do so. Software solutions could have a major impact on reporting policies and future developments in workplace health and safety.
Companies have until Dec. 1, 2017 to comply with their new reporting responsibilities under the federal rule. However, many executives are currently looking into solutions in order to be prepared to roll out the federal initiative. Tracking information about injuries on the job can help to indicate particularly dangerous areas of work.
For many employees, workplace accidents can be financially devastating. In most cases, injured victims have the right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits under their employer’s insurance coverage. An attorney who has experience with these types of matters can explain the process.