B.C. board launches online tool to highlight financial rewards of workplace safety
B.C.’s Workers’ Compensation Board has launched an online tool that calculates the cost of a workplace accident.
The calculator shows costs in lost production, time taken to secure the site and cost of sending a second employee to accompany the injured worker to hospital.
Lawrence Scarlett, a spokesperson for the WCB, said the calculator should encourage small business to see the financial rewards of workplace safety.
“Being able to actually see the actual cost of an incident should allow them to put those protective measures into place to eliminate those hazards,” he said.
For example, the calculator shows that a construction worker who falls two metres costs the company $1,600. A robbery at a retail store can cost up to $5,600 if a clerk suffers trauma.
The site can be accessed at http://www.healthandsafetycentre.org/sc/tours/default.htm.
The calculator shows costs in lost production, time taken to secure the site and cost of sending a second employee to accompany the injured worker to hospital.
Lawrence Scarlett, a spokesperson for the WCB, said the calculator should encourage small business to see the financial rewards of workplace safety.
“Being able to actually see the actual cost of an incident should allow them to put those protective measures into place to eliminate those hazards,” he said.
For example, the calculator shows that a construction worker who falls two metres costs the company $1,600. A robbery at a retail store can cost up to $5,600 if a clerk suffers trauma.
The site can be accessed at http://www.healthandsafetycentre.org/sc/tours/default.htm.
