Every year, companies in the U.S. shell out more than $62 billion for work-related injuries — a sum that is greater than 91 countries’ entire gross domestic product. What’s more, these costs only take into account the injuries that cause workers to miss six or more days from work, meaning the true cost of workplace injuries is likely much higher.

And while you might think you have a satisfactory safety record, remember that injuries and accidents can happen to any worker at any time. What’s more, a simple lack of injuries doesn’t necessarily mean that your health and safety program is living up to its full potential — there’s always room for improvement.

This year, make safety a greater priority in 10 minutes or less with these four New Year’s safety resolutions:

1. Plan Your Safety Goals

Now is a good time to review the previous year’s stats and identify areas where you could make improvements. Maybe you noticed an uptick in slip, trip, and fall hazards last year, or maybe you had a few injuries that caused employees to miss work. Whatever the case, you can use what happened last year to set realistic goals for the coming year.

From there, you can break your larger goals into smaller benchmarks that will make it easier to achieve your greater objectives. This makes your end desire seem less daunting and more plausible, plus it gives you an easier way to measure your progress.

2. Host Daily Safety Meetings

If daily meetings aren’t common practice in your organization, make this the year you start prioritizing engagement and communication. Circle up with teams on a regular basis to highlight issues you’ve noticed, talk about safety stats, get feedback, and allow employees to share their insights. These meetings can take as little as 5-10 minutes a day and gives you an excellent way to bring safety to the forefront on an ongoing basis.

3. Reward Employees for Practicing Safety

Incentives can go a long way in encouraging employees to practice safety at work. Take a few minutes each week to walk around the workplace and hand out small rewards to employees you catch “in the act.” This not only shows your appreciation for them but also shows others that you’re paying attention.

4. Promote Mental Breaks

Distractions and fatigue aren’t just productivity killers — they can also lead to workplace accidents when employees aren’t fully focused. Give your team daily reminders to stop and stretch, take a quick walk, or retreat to the break room for a few minutes here and there so they can refresh their minds and refocus on their work.

Tools like KPA Flex are designed to help companies create a comprehensive, standardized EHS department. From reporting features to employee training to creating SOPs and more, companies can remove much of the guesswork in creating a safe place to work and gain deeper insights into their EHS program. Watch the KPA Flex demo today and enjoy a higher level of safety in 2020!