Bartow Schools Workplace Accidents Down 29 Percent

By Sharon Roper

For the second year in a row, the Bartow County School System continues with its Workplace Safety Committee, creating a system of preventive and maintenance procedures for securing a safe and accident free workplace.

Not only is one initiative to keep all who enter a facility free from accident harm, but each safety liaison serves as a contact point in case of an event emergency involving staff injuries. Liaisons monitor and communicate safety hazards involving day-to-day operations in their locations. 

This group is able to identify trends in safety regulations and concerns that flow through the system and thus work towards a resolution. 

Twice a year, each committee member participates in a safety walk-through at their location with a committee officer. Here they address systematic safety concerns and/or provide feedback to the committee for budgetary considerations for future planning. 

Due to implementation of Workplace Safety Committee, BCSS has seen a reduction in workplace incidences by 29 percent. By reducing the number of workplace accidents, this not only aims to make the workplace safer, it also saves the district money. 

This year, BCSS expects to see another drop in accident claims due to the committee’s efforts. 

Through state reporting and the insurance management process, these reductions are seen as an extremely positive reflection on BCSS. Thus, this decreases the insurance premiums paid by the system which saves money. 

“The work that this group has taken on, especially the elected officers, has been instrumental in producing a concerted, collaborative effort to provide the safest of environments not only for our employees, but for all who enter our facilities. By reducing workplace injuries, we reduce the need for our staff members to not be directly involved in supporting our core business—our students,” said Macy Defnall, executive director of BCSS Human Resources and Support Services. 

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