Every year, thousands of American workers are injured on the job, whether in an office, a retail store, a restaurant, or some other type of commercial property. Although workplace accidents can range from the very minor to the severe and even deadly, nearly all are preventable in some way. A minimal amount of proactive effort now can help prevent a catastrophic workplace accident in the future, protecting both employees and the company.

Over the last century, the American workforce has both increased and aged as a greater number of workers remain on the job even after reaching retirement age. Some older workers remain active on the job because of improved health and true enjoyment of their jobs, while others need to keep working in order to have enough money for retirement. There are definite advantages to having more senior employees in the workplace, but there are also some issues employers need to consider to keep these older employees safe.

Houston is home to thousands of restaurants, cafes, delis, and gourmet dining establishments of all different styles and cuisines. While they may serve vastly different dishes and customer bases, they all face similar challenges. For example, restaurants face higher numbers of business liability claims than some other industries, which can impact their financial health and business future.

There is not a job in existence that does not come with some level of risk. Whether a job is indoors or outside, at a desk or behind the wheel, at an entry-level position or in corporate management, workplace accidents can occur. However, some companies do a much worse job than others at mitigating risks and protecting employees from personal injury and harm. In today's blog post, we will look at four ways businesses put their employees at risk for workplace accidents, and what companies can do to reduce risks and keep employees safe.

Workers Compensation Insurance is a cornerstone of many commercial insurance policies, but in the state of Texas, it is only recommended, and not required by state law. To their detriment, some businesses skip having Workers Compensation coverage with the belief that it's unnecessary because they have little to no workplace accidents. The reality is that insurance protects against the issues, accidents, and damages we can't ever plan for, and having Workers Compensation coverage is a smart business decision, regardless of the industry or size of the company.

Tension in the workplace can arise from a variety of causes. For example, a business can become a hostile environment because of words, such as discussions regarding work performance, politics, pay, race, religion, or personal issues. In addition, workplace tension can escalate because of circumstances, such as layoffs, missed promotions, failed office romances, excessive overtime, coworker clashes, health issues, or personal strife at home. The goal of business owners should be to identify and peacefully diffuse workplace tension before it escalates into workplace violence.

One of the biggest innovations to impact the business world in the last few years has been the use of drones for commercial use. Drones are used in industries across the world, including farming, manufacturing, art, real estate, construction, retail, and everything in between. While they provide incredible and unique perspectives for businesses and their customers, the commercial use of drones comes with substantial risk for property owners.

As 2016 comes to a close, many businesses begin planning out strategies for the new year to increase revenue, win customers, improve efficiency, and lower costs. However, many companies miss out on important growth opportunities because they fail to perform a thorough year-end review. A year-end review can help identify successes, failures, and areas of improvement from the past year, all of which can help put businesses in a better position to thrive in the new year.

One of the biggest struggles companies can face is dealing with work place accidents and injured employees that result in Worker's Compensation claims. No business owner wants to have injured employees, nor do they want missed work time, decreased productivity, or higher workers compensation costs. Companies can find ways to reduce their costs and encourage injured employees to return to work earlier without infringing on their rights to receive the benefits and assistance they are due.

Although handy for home improvement projects and construction jobs, ladders are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment found in homes and businesses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 43% of fatal falls in the home involve the use of ladders, while in the business world, ladder falls account for 20% of all falls on worksites, and over 80% of falls in the construction industry. Their instability, combined with frequent misuse, makes ladders a dangerous piece of equipment to use if not handled safely.