Inspections may help safety and the bottom line: study

Tumwater, WA – An inspection from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries may improve safety and save money for employers in the state, claims a study (.pdf file) from the Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention program.

SHARP researchers examined Washington L&I inspection data and workers’ compensation claims from 1998 to 2008 and found claims and claim costs fell significantly after a business received a safety inspection or safety consultation, according to an L&I press release.

The biggest impact was at businesses that received at least one citation. In those cases, worker injury claims decreased as much as 20 percent more than worksites that were not inspected.

SHARP presented the research in October during a quarterly meeting of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association.

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