When you think about businesses in the United States, the first companies that might come to mind are likely “big business” giants, like automobile manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, or other behemoths that employ thousands upon thousands of workers.
The reality, however, is that small businesses—those with 500 or fewer employees—far outnumber large businesses. In fact, small businesses in many ways power the U.S. economy and provide the jobs that keep food on the table for millions of Americans.
While small businesses may outnumber big businesses, they rarely compete on a level playing field. In fact, most small business owners would tell you that their resources pale in comparison to their larger counterparts.
Unfortunately, scarce resource allocation may lead some small businesses to avoid investing in necessary areas. A recent survey has revealed that one of those areas in which small businesses may be lacking can have a significant impact: safety training.
According to a recent Safety+Health Magazine article, “[n]early 60% of small-business employees have witnessed a workplace injury in the past year, and almost half of those injuries were considered preventable.” Why so many?
That’s what Pie Insurance, “a commercial insurance provider for small businesses,” wanted to learn when it “commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 full- or part-time workers at businesses with 500 or fewer employees.”
The results of that survey were quite concerning, especially regarding important safety training:
- “Only 29% of workers said they regularly receive safety training, even though 63% of employers say they provide structured training.”
- “28% said they’ve never received formal safety training.”
In a press release, Pie Insurance senior vice president of claims Carla Woodard said, “What I find most meaningful about this data is that it shows the gap between what employers think they’re providing and what employees actually experience, and that’s where the real opportunity lies.”
So, what can small businesses do to provide adequate safety training for employees? Fortunately, they don’t need to recreate the wheel. Instead, partnering with established companies to provide industrial-quality training systems that will stand the test of time can help ensure the continued safety of the workforce.
For example, DAC Worldwide offers two safety training systems specifically designed to give employees the hands-on experience they need to master lock-out/tag-out skills:
- DAC Worldwide Lock-Out/Tag-Out Training System
- DAC Worldwide Electrical Lock-Out/Tag-Out Training System
Be sure to check out these training systems and contact a DAC Worldwide representative to learn how you can improve your training today!
