Common Workplace Accidents And Injuries

Workplace accidents can cause injury, work delays, lost revenue and compensation, and many other short and long term damages. Unfortunately, many workplace accidents are preventable but occur due to negligence by a company or institution. Here are the top 10 preventable workplace incidents and tips on how to avoid them.

  1. Overexertion Injuries: Physical overexertion injuries account for about $13.6 billion in benefit costs annually. Prevention: Train employees on the proper ways to perform physical tasks, give breaks, encourage protective wear.
  2. Slipping and Tripping: Slipping and tripping can lead to severe physical injury and accounts for a large amount of lost-time injuries. Prevention: Utilize warning signs, non-slip rugs, and labels for potential danger zones.
  3. Falling From Heights: Falls that happen from an elevated surface may be caused by slips/falls or faulty equipment. Slip and fall incidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. Prevention: Employ the previous prevention tactics, require wearing of protective gear, install guard rails, and frequently check equipment safety and stability.
  4. Reaction Injuries: Often caused by abrupt reactions to slips and falls. Prevention: Employ the prevention methods of falls, slips, and trips.
  5. Falling Object Injuries: Objects falling from shelves or dropped by another person can cause severe injury, particularly to the head. Prevention: Store and stack materials in safe manner and require proper handling of materials by employees.
  6. Walking Into Injuries: Injuries resulting from an individual walking into a static object. Prevention: Maintain a neat workplace, utilize proper signage for problem areas, and encourage people to be aware of surroundings.
  7. Vehicle Crashes: Employees whose job includes operating a vehicle are often involved in crashes. Prevention: Define and provide safe driving practices to employees and ensure equipment is functioning properly.
  8. Machine Entanglement: Often occurs in environments where heavy equipment is used. May be caused by loose clothing, hair, shoes, and accessories. Prevention: Install protective barriers and train employees on how to spot potential safety hazards.
  9. Repetitive Motion Injuries: Repetitive motions can cause muscle, tendon, joint, and back pain, and vision problems. Prevention: Ergonomic equipment as well breaks to stretch and rest should give the body time to adjust and recuperate.
  10. On The Job Violent Acts: On the job violent attacks have actually caused incredibly serious physical injury. Prevention: Provide workplace violence training to give employees the resources to deal with or prevent violent behavior. Create safe and secure methods of communication for employees to report suspicious activity.

If you are a victim of a workplace accident that results in any of these damages it is important to know your rights and what is owed to you by your place of employment. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to offset the damages suffered by the accident. The Law Offices of Norman J. Homen is dedicated to provide victims of workplace injuries with fair representation. If you or someone you love has been a victim of a workplace injury call the Law Offices of Norman J. Homen and get your claim started.

Courtesy of the National Safety Council