Nearly 3 million Americans are injured in workplace accidents each year. These injuries can range from mild to quite severe. As a business owner, your main concern should be preventing these accidents at all cost.
The longer a business owner waits to get a handle on an unsafe work environment, the harder it will be to avoid serious accidents. Learning how to prevent the most common workplace injuries will require some professional help. Safety professionals can come in and audit a workspace and let a business owner know what needs to be changed to avoid accidents in the future.
The following are some of the most common workplace injuries and what can be done to prevent them.
1. The Most Common Workplace Injuries Occur as a Result of Slip and Fall Accidents
Spills are a pretty common occurrence in most workplaces. If these spills are not cleaned up properly, it can result in a slip and fall accident. These accidents occur when an individual slips on a wet floor and injures themselves as a result of hitting the floor with force.
Instead of waiting for one of these accidents to occur to take action, a business owner needs to focus on taking preventative measures. Doing things like installing skid tape on steps or even handrails can be beneficial. A business owner can also encourage their team to wear shoes with non-stick soles to help prevent these accidents.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, filing a worker’s compensation claim is crucial. Once the claim has been filed, you will go in to get checked out by a workers comp doctor. After this appointment, you can find out how severe the injuries are and what action needs to be taken to get compensation for your pain and suffering.
2. Lifting-Related Accidents
Working a physically demanding job is quite common. Most people are required to lift heavy objects while on the clock. If this lifting is done incorrectly, it can lead to extensive neck and back injuries.
Avoiding these lift-related accidents will require a business owner to educate their employees. Teaching proper lifting techniques and providing back braces is a great way to avoid these accidents. A business owner will also need to abide by OSHA lifting guidelines to avoid injuring their employees.
3. Repetitive Use Injuries Are Common
Working in a factory or warehouse requires a person to do the same tasks over and over again. This repetitive motion can cause damage to a person’s joints and ligaments. Conditions like carpal tunnel can be caused by this type of repetitive motion.
The best way to help prevent repetitive motion injuries is by providing your employees with plenty of breaks. You should also think about using the power of automation to reduce the number of repetitive tasks your team has to perform.
Preventing Workplace Injuries Will Not Be Easy
Now that you know about the most common workplace injuries, it is time to take action. Be aware that making your workplace safer will not be an overnight process. This process takes time and a lot of hard work, but it is definitely worth the effort invested.
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