Common work-related injuries have decreased due to more health and safety measures. However, there is still a lot that can be done to get the number down to zero. There are some common workplace accidents that lead to injuries. If you have any sort of workplace injury, you don’t want to wait to get medical treatment. Even if the injury seems small, injuries that are due to workplace accidents can progress over time and lead to more serious problems later on.
Falls, Trips, and Slips
Falls, slips, and trips are some of the most common accidents that can lead to injuries and represent the top reason for injury claims. These include workers that slip on a wet, oily, or icy floor, fall off roofs, construction areas, or ladders, or trip because of unprotected holes or slides, clutter, or poor lighting. These types of injuries can be prevented by following OSHA fall protection requirements and being aware of their surroundings. If you are working in an environment where falls are more likely, it helps to know what to do after falling even if the injury seems minor. Injuries can have lasting consequences.
Muscle Strains and Overexertion
Overexertion injuries, such as repetitive strain injuries or muscle strains, can cause long-term debilitating pain and can cause an overall loss of productivity. This type of injury can be caused by repetitive work without any breaks, manually lifting heavy objects, improper lifting technique, microtasks on a factory line, moving a mouse or typing without good ergonomics, jumping to another level, or a collapsing structure. Your employer should have the training you are required to take in order to perform physical tasks correctly so you are able to prevent muscle strain. You can also check out OSHA’s ergonomics training. In order to avoid overexertion and reduce your risk for any long-term injuries, you should make sure you are getting frequent breaks. Use these breaks to stretch and rest. Also, be sure to utilize mechanical lifting equipment to lift items that are more than 50 pounds. If you have overexertion discomfort and pain, don’t wait to get treatment. Untreated injuries can worsen over time.
Struck by Falling Objects, Equipment, or Workers
Most people have accidentally walked into a sharp counter edge or tuned into the wall, but if you are in a high-risk industry then these injuries can be more serious. These types of injuries can cause stress fractures, broken bones, blindness, severe hand injuries, severed fingers or limbs, traumatic head injuries, and more. These injuries are caused by part of a worker’s body being caught in gears or wire, falling debris, materials or tools, dropped loads, poorly guarded machinery, excessive vibration, tipping over of heavy equipment, or walking into machinery or walls. Many of these injuries can be prevented by being aware of the surroundings on the job site and following the established procedures and policies. Your worksite should also put away unnecessary hazards and you should avoid loose clothing and wear proper PPE.
Collision or Crashes
Whether you are working around motor vehicles or driving them, you are at risk for an injury from a collision. If you are working in a warehouse, you also run the risk of being run over or hit by a forklift. Other examples of collisions or crashes involve falling from a motor vehicle, being hit by an object falling from a vehicle, or getting stuck under an overturned vehicle. When you are operating a motor vehicle, make sure you are taking the right safety precautions laid out by your employer and wear your seat belt.
Exposure to Harmful Environments or Substances
Those who work around hazardous chemicals or work in loud environments risk severe injuries to respiratory systems, eyes, ears, and skin if exposed without wearing the proper protection. Be sure to familiarize yourself with chemical safety data sheets and wear safety goggles, ear protection, and proper gear when exposed to loud noises or harmful substances. Those who work around heavy cleaning equipment should know the signs of bleach poisoning.
Explosions and Fire
Explosions and fire can burn body tissue and cause damage to the respiratory system and even cause disfigurement. This type of injury isn’t as common as some other ones, but it does have a high casualty rate, especially if you are closer to the blast. Injuries for explosions can be categorized into four types based on the level of impact. A primary blast injury is an injury caused by a blast wave unique to high-order explosions. Secondary blast injuries are because of debris displaced by wind or flying objects. Tertiary blasts are injuries because of structure collapse or displacement through the air. All other crush injuries, radiation, and burns are considered quaternary blast injuries. In order to avoid these types of injuries, you should be following hazard communication standards and wearing the right PPE.
Violence and Other Injuries by Animals and Persons
Even though many people like to think that fighting at work doesn’t happen, it does happen and can cause injuries. Compounding tension and stress can result in confrontation from a customer or employee and lead to physical assault. Injuries caused by animals can also be a concern for some industries, including those who work on a farm or environments where animals, such as dogs, are present. In order to prevent these types of injuries, employers should have a zero-tolerance policy. When working with animals, you need to be alert at all times and wear proper attire.
Causes of Work-Related Fatalities
There are four common work-related fatalities and these include motor vehicle crashes or being struck by a moving object or vehicle, slips and falls from tall heights, getting caught in-between tools, devices, or machines, and electrocutions.
It’s not always possible to control when an accident happens, but there are steps that you can take in order to keep yourself safe and reduce work-related injuries. If you are involved in a workplace accident that has led to injury, you want to speak with a lawyer.
