Safety first: hire conscientious employees to cut down on costly workplace accidents

Whether restaurant operators are bearing the cost themselves or sharing it with their employees, more and more are implementing shoe-safety programs to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. Companies wishing to improve workplace safety should not only address policies and aspects of the work environment, but also should see if it is possible to hire "safer" employees. Traits such as impulsiveness, sensation seeking, risk taking and extroversion have been linked to increased accidents. On the other hand, one personality trait, conscientiousness, is probably the most studied attribute when it comes to safety behavior and accidents. In the end, it comes down to this: Preventative measures are important, but it is best to hire safer workers first.