| During a down economy, businesses reduce their | | | | Businesses use calculations to determine return on |
| costs to make it through the tough times. | | | | investment to decide which expenses are valuable |
| However, some costs should not be cut. For | | | | to the company and which are not. The cost of |
| example, an airline needs fuel to stay in business. | | | | new equipment for manufacturing is balanced |
| Other expenses like company picnics and travel | | | | against the productivity increase to calculate how |
| can be reduced until the economy improves, but | | | | long it will take the equipment to pay for itself. |
| items like FR clothing are vital to a productive and | | | | While it's easy to see the benefits of safety, it's |
| safe work environment. | | | | difficult to calculate its value because there is no |
| Work Safety Programs | | | | way of knowing the disasters averted and how |
| Everyone becomes diligent about safety after | | | | much they would have cost. |
| there's been an accident. People are more | | | | Safety expenses like FR clothing must be |
| motivated to reduce the risks of the workplace | | | | evaluated in a different way. An accident can cost |
| when an incident is still fresh in their minds. FR | | | | millions in expenses and when you add the price |
| clothing and other protective safety equipment is | | | | of potential legal action and the lost productivity |
| upgraded, new procedures are implemented, and | | | | from low employee morale, a safety program |
| the business becomes a safer place. | | | | doesn't seem so expensive after all. |
| The goal of any work safety program is to have | | | | Cut Costs, Not Safety |
| no incidents of accident of injury. Unfortunately, | | | | Even a business that recognizes the necessity of |
| when no accidents occur, people often then | | | | expenses like FR clothing may not have the |
| question the cost of a safety program. They | | | | money required. However, there are ways to cut |
| wonder if employees really need flame resistant | | | | costs without cutting safety. |
| uniforms since the business has not had even one | | | | Consider buying FR clothing that is machine |
| fire related injury in the past six years. | | | | washable. This type is easy to care for and |
| Unfortunately, the expenses for safety are | | | | receives their flame resistance from the |
| usually regulated by those who don't do the actual | | | | modacrylic fabric used instead of from added |
| work. | | | | chemicals that can wear off, causing the need for |
| Safety becomes even more questioned in a | | | | frequent replacement. By caring for these flame |
| down economy. With workers facing layoffs and | | | | retardant clothes, you can reduce the cost. |
| cut benefits, management often feels they can | | | | Controlling the budget of your business isn't |
| avoid these problems by making cuts in safety. | | | | always about spending less. It's often about |
| As a down economy continues, employees work | | | | spending smart. Make smart budget cuts when |
| extra hours, experience low morale, which | | | | necessary that will keep your business in a great |
| sometimes leads to accidents. | | | | position to profit, regardless of the economy. |
| The Value of Safety | | | | |