Accidents at work and occupational injuries represent a considerable economic burden for individuals, employers and to society as a whole. For small companies in particular, accidents can have a major financial impact. Some of these costs, such as lost workdays or lost income, are obvious and can be expressed readily in monetary terms. However, many of the economic consequences of accidents are hidden to some extent, or cannot be easily quantified.

It is not only this range of costs that enterprises must be aware of, but also the added benefits that proper management of safety and health bring. Studies have clearly shown that an efficient and integrated management of occupational safety and health is closely related to business excellence and profitability.

What benefits can good safety and health bring?

• Healthy workers are more productive and can produce at a higher quality;
• Fewer work-related accidents and diseases lead to less absence. In turn, this results in lower costs and less disruption of the production processes;
• Equipment and a working environment that are optimised to the needs of the working process and that are well-maintained lead to higher productivity, better quality and less health and safety risks;
• Reduction of injuries and illnesses means less damages and lower risks for liabilities.