Photo courtesy of © Adobe Stock - Kaspars Grinvalds

By Dimitrius King

Workplace injuries are a reality that many small businesses face — especially landscape businesses . Given the high risk of equipment accidents , chemical and pesticide exposures , and environmental and property risks , among others , it ’ s important to understand the benefits of efficient reporting of workers ’ comp claims as a landscape business owner . The amount of time it takes to report claims can have a real impact on employees and a business ’ s bottom line .

With a timely injury-reporting process , landscape business owners and their workers can benefit in several ways . Examples include :

1 . Maintaining employee trust and morale Fewer than one in four U . S . employees feel strongly that their organization cares about their wellbeing — the lowest percentage in nearly a decade , as reported by Gallup in 2022 . In an industry with as many hazards as landscaping , due to the use of specialized equipment and power tools , accidents must be taken seriously . Business owners can build trust and work to prevent accidents by sharing resources on preventing workplace hazards . While risk management and prevention is an important first step , given the risks associated with equipment and chemicals , accidents are sometimes inevitable . In cases where accidents do occur , companies that don ’ t take workers ’ comp claims seriously or are late to file claims may notice employee morale start to sink , as delayed reporting can send a message to workers that there ’ s little concern for their safety and wellbeing . Especially in today ’ s turbulent job market , prioritizing employee health and care through efficient reporting of workers ’ comp claims can help contribute to an environment where workers feel protected and valued .

2 . Allowing for an in-depth accident investigation To preserve key pieces of evidence and mitigate fraud , it ’ s im-

28 OPE Business April 2023 www . OPEBusiness . com