Regardless of your industry, there is always a possibility of injuring yourself at the workplace. While certain jobs are at risk more than others, it is important to take the necessary precautions and follow the safety guidelines in every work environment. Whether you are a business owner or an employee, knowing the most common workplace injuries and understanding how to prevent them can protect you and your business from serious accidents.
Importance of Safety in The Workplace
A safe work environment is essential for any business to succeed. A healthy workplace not only ensures the safety of the workers but also helps protect businesses from expensive injury costs. In addition, a safe workplace can increase employee satisfaction, boost production, and improve the overall work experience. However, it is important to note, if you do suffer from a work-related injury, it is crucial to reach out to an experienced lawyer who deals with worker’s compensation issues.
From falling objects to slippery floors, here are the most common workplace accidents and injuries.
Slips and Falls
One of the most common injuries that can occur in any work environment are slips and falls. From icy walkways to wet floors, spilled material, or poor lighting, a fall can lead to serious injuries and lawsuits. However, falls are usually preventable. It is crucial to train employees to clean up spills and materials, uses wet floor signs, and mark uneven flooring.
A slip and fall lawyer helps victims navigate the legal aspects if they’ve experienced a slip and fall injury in the workplace. Just ensure you choose an experienced legal counsel. Your slip and fall lawyer will negotiate a settlement with the responsible party or their insurance company. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit. Most slip and fall cases go through settlement rather than going to trial.
Motor Accidents
Workers whose jobs depend on driving have to deal with severe weather conditions, incompetent drivers, and damaged vehicles on a daily basis, which can lead to serious car accidents and injuries. In addition, construction sites, auto shops, and factories put workers at great risk of vehicle collisions with the use of construction vehicles and heavy machinery.
Forklift accidents, for example, are one of the most common types of work-related accidents. If you’ve suffered this type of accident, contact a reputable forklift injury attorney for help in obtaining the compensation you deserve. Businesses should enforce strict driving policies and require specific certifications to ensure driver safety.
Overexertion
Overexertion can happen from lifting, pulling, holding, and throwing objects which cause serious strains, sprains, and muscle pulls. Overworking in the office can also lead to severe lower back problems and carpal tunnel. It is essential to incorporate regular spread throughout the workday and train employees in work safety.
Companies employ various strategies to prevent employee overexertion. This practice is essential to maintain a healthy work environment, as overexerted employees often suffer from burnout and decreased productivity. To ensure a balanced work-life equilibrium, firms promote flexible work hours, telecommuting options, and providing paid time off for vacations, personal days, and holidays.
Managers play a pivotal role in establishing realistic expectations for job roles, avoiding excessive task assignments, and conducting regular check-ins with their teams to monitor workloads and stress levels.
Additionally, distributing work evenly among team members, providing skill development opportunities, and encouraging effective time management are common tactics to mitigate overexertion. Companies also set clear overtime policies, invest in technology to streamline processes and offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to support those facing stress or burnout.
Falls From High Heights
Another leading workplace injury is falling from high heights, Especially prevalent in labor industries like construction and roofing; workers risk falling from ladders, roofs, scaffolding, platforms, and other high heights. The best way to protect workers is to provide safety training and proper gear.
Caught In Equipment
Common in factories, construction sites, and auto shops, getting caught in machinery can pose a serious risk of injury for workers. Rollers, gears, and other parts of heavy machinery and engines can entrap workers and lead to muscle tears and crushed limbs. It is essential to reduce entanglement hazards by enforcing the use of proper uniforms, barriers, and protective equipment.
Hit By Falling Objects
Contrary to belief, injuries from falling objects are just as much an issue in office settings as in construction sites and warehouses. Building materials, tools, and scaffolding can fall on top of workers in construction sites and factories, leading to spinal cord injuries and brain trauma. Heavy objects in offices falling from disorganized cupboards and bookshelves can also cause severe injuries, from broken bones to head trauma. It is crucial to train employees in any industry to follow proper safety protocols.
Work Place Violence
Unfortunately, one biggest causes of work-related injuries are due to violence in the workplace. According to workplace safety organizations such as OSHA, fights at work are the third leading cause of workplace injuries. Disputes and arguments between co-workers can turn violent, especially in high-pressure work environments. Businesses should consider specific violence and deceleration training to minimize the risk of violence-related injuries.
Enforce Proper Safety Measures
Workplace injuries can bring an array of issues for both the employees and the business. Enforcing safety measures and protocols won’t guarantee worker safety but will drastically reduce the threat of work-related injuries.
