Accidents are common occurrences in the workplace. The National Safety Council estimates that one employee gets hurt while on the job every seven seconds. These injuries disrupt workplace operations, costing employees and employers a lot of time and money.
Fortunately, most workplace injuries are avoidable. Specific preventive measures can help minimize workplace safety risks and hazards.
Detailed below are common workplace injuries and how to avoid them.
Strains
Neck and back strains are some of the most frequent workplace injuries. They are caused by overexertion of the body due to prolonged periods of repetitive and strenuous motions such as sitting at a workstation, lifting heavy inventory, or maintaining a standing position at the assembly line for several hours.
Employees are advised to use protective equipment to prevent strains. These include lifting aids, safety harness belts, and back braces. Employers must also provide office employees with ergonomic chairs as they provide ample posture support, improve blood circulation and minimize hip pressure.
Another necessary means of avoiding workplace strains is conducting regular training sessions on safe lifting techniques. This could involve on-site training or posting strain prevention educational resources on the company website.
Slips and Falls
Slips and falls are a massive liability for businesses. In addition to the severity of possible injuries sustained by employees, slip and falls can have a substantial financial impact on the employers in terms of compensation and increased premiums.
Therefore, it is paramount that employers put in place smart measures to avoid these injuries. The first thing should be to introduce a workplace policy requiring employees to clean up spills promptly. Office cleaners should also use warning signs to point out wet floors.
If applicable, employees should be encouraged to utilize non-slip soles at the workplace. Installing handrails along stairs and verandahs can also provide extra protection against falls.
Cuts and Grazes
The traditional workspace is filled with potential hazards for cuts and grazes. These include office equipment such as scissors, box cutters, sharp desk edges, and letter openers.
To avoid these injuries, employees should receive training on how to use sharp workplace equipment safely. Maintaining these tools in good condition and using safety guards to cover sharp furniture edges is also necessary.
Exposure to Toxic Substances
Employees are also at significant risk of sustaining injuries from inhaling or coming into contact with harmful substances, especially those working in industrial plants. Some common injuries workers sustain from toxic exposure include electrocution, oxygen deficiency, frostbite, lung poisoning, heatstroke, and skin radiation.
Preventing these injuries relies on organizational preparedness. Using appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) is an ideal starting point, followed by observing proper chemical storage protocols. Employers must also provide workers with breaks and sufficient water during extreme temperatures.
Other notable preventive measures include installing ample ventilation in areas prone to heavy fumes and insulating all electrical outputs. The actions will ensure employees are protected against workplace injuries at all times.
“Employees who sustain any workplace injuries mentioned above should hire a lawyer to help with their compensation claims negotiations,” says workers’ compensation attorney Matt Sadler of Price Benowitz LLP. However, you may need to hire a lawyer when pursuing compensation after a workplace injury or illness.
