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Published on Dec 13
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Accidents occur in nearly every workplace, across all industries. While these accidents may seem like an inevitable component of the modern workplace, the truth is that many are entirely avoidable. Proper training, identification of the causes of these incidents, and implementing steps to help prevent them can go a long way in decreasing your workplace accident rates. Read on for more information on three of the most avoidable workplace accidents.
Overexertion
Overexertion injuries are those related to pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing activities at work. Repetitive motion injuries are also often classified as overexertion injuries. These types of incidents are consistently among the most common of the avoidable workplace accidents and the most expensive workplace injuries for companies to handle.
If your employees are frequently moving heavy boxes or supplies from place to place, they are more at risk of these types of injury. Training employees how to properly lift and move objects safely is a good first step in avoiding overexertion injuries. You should take steps to reduce the amount of bending, reaching and twisting that employees have to do on a regular basis. You should also encourage and mandate frequent short breaks during employee shifts to allow them to rest. This not only protects your workers but can also reduce the number of workers’ compensation claims your employees file.
Slips, trips, and falls
Slips, trips, and falls are the number two cause of workplace injuries in America. Resulting from falls on wet or slippery floors, tripping over objects, and falls from ladders and other equipment, these incidents are one of the most easily preventable types of accidents.
Make sure that all employees understand the need for and follow rules about place ladders only on even, solid surfaces and that they don’t climb beyond the maximum height on ladders. Encourage employees to pay attention to what is going on around them and to practice good housekeeping skills. Employees should clean up or report the need for clean-up of any debris or spills immediately.
Encourage your facilities team to check flooring regularly. Secure carpeting, repair chipped tiles, cordon off or repair uneven walk surfaces immediately. Post signs to warn employees of areas that might pose a risk of slips, trips, or falls. Place rubber mats on surfaces that are prone to becoming wet or slick. Install railings along all stairways, even shorter ones.
Taking these precautions can help you protect your employees, visitors, and customers. This means the ability to limit your liability for lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, and lost productivity.
Contact with objects and equipment
Objects falling or dropped from shelving units and storage areas can lead to very serious injuries, with head trauma the most common result of these incidents. Keeping the workplace free of hazards, proper training, and the right personal protection gear can go a long way to limiting the number of these types of incidents and the severity of injuries.
Storing heavy objects close to the floor or on lower levels of shelving units greatly reduces the risk of injury from falling objects. Make sure that employees are aware of moving equipment and objects in work areas. Use sound to cue employees when objects like forklifts or other heavy equipment are in motion. Change flooring types to indicate when employees are moving from one area of the workspace to another, especially near large glass windows, doors, and walls.
Safety and Sheakley
The best way to prevent avoidable workplace accidents is to build a culture of safety focused on prevention. Training conducted by safety managers and professionals to teach workers proper safety habits is key, but just as important is encouraging employees to speak up about potential safety risks in the workplace. Sheakley can help you develop better policies and provide assistance with developing safety programs to help you achieve your safety goals. Our experts are here to keep your employees and your business safe. Sheakley’s Workforce Management Services experts provide complete safety resources for your company.
Get your free safety consultation today with an expert from Sheakley. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Are there any other avoidable workplace accidents that you see often? Join in the discussion by commenting below.
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