No matter who you work for or what kind of business you run, accidents happen. That’s why as an owner, you need to be prepared for what kind of injuries are common in the workplace, how you can avoid them, and understand what to do when it does happen. Sometimes things just happen that are totally out of your control, but understanding the next steps to take is crucial.
Why Do Accidents Happen In The Workplace?
There are tons of reasons that accidents happen in the workplace, and sometimes they can’t be avoided. The best way to prevent them is to start learning from the previous accidents. If you notice there is heavy foot traffic around moving machinery, it is time to put something in place that limits that. Over time, you will find workplace injury prevention tips through experience. With our help, you will learn types of accident prevention and what is best for your company.
Workplace Injuries & Accident Statistics
In 2017 over 882,730 injuries and illnesses were reported due to occupation by the BLS or Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is crucial to understand how many injuries actually happen at work. It is also essential for you to keep track of and report all workplace incidents. Here are some statistics to keep in mind:
- 64% of bone fractures were from service industry accidents.
- 11% of incidents involved overexertion from lifting or lowering objects.
- 35% of injuries in all industries were from tears, sprains, and strains.
To find out more statistics, you can look through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. They will keep you up to date with what you can expect and report incidents for you to be aware of.
6 Most Common Workplace Injuries
When joining any industry, you will want to keep a lookout for how to prevent these six common workplace injuries. In this guide, you will learn what they are, how to prevent them, and what to do if a safety accident happens.
The most common types of injuries in the workplace are:
- Vehicle-Related Accidents
- Trips, Slips, And Falls
- Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries
- Exposure to Harmful Substances
- Fire And Explosions
- Moving Machinery
As a manager, owner, or anyone else in charge, you need to be aware of these most common workplace injuries and how to prevent them. You can only limit so much, but keeping your team and company safe should always be your number one priority. Find out how to create a workplace injury prevention program.
1. Vehicle-Related Accidents
Believe it or not, when you are working with vehicles or have vehicles in your industry, there will always be a chance that an accident happens. This can be when someone is run over by a moving vehicle, struck by objects from the vehicle, or even gets stuck under a vehicle. This can happen frequently depending on the industry you work in.
How To Avoid Vehicle-Related Accidents
The best way to avoid this is by having a design or layout that separates pedestrian walkers from moving vehicles. You can add in signs that help the walkers stay vigilant. One next step you can take is by assessing who is at risk and who should be driving the vehicles. There is no way to avoid risk completely, but you can limit things to reduce workplace accidents.
2. Trips, Slips, And Falls
One-third of all workplace injuries are from slips, trips, and several falls. How can accidents be prevented when someone is falling? These things do happen accidentally and can cause some pretty severe problems. The most common reasons people fall or trip are from wet floors are poor lighting and uneven walking surfaces.
How To Prevent Falls, Slips, and Trips
The best way to prevent slips, trips, and falls is by ensuring the walkways are clear and even. Another good way is by keeping the floors cleaned and putting out signs when they may be wet and slippery. You can also ask every employee to get the proper footwear for the job. Learn more about fall protection safety.
3. Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries
Back pain may seem like something that is not a boss’s problem, but the truth is that it should be concerning. Back problems for overexertion cost employers over 7 billion dollars annually. It can cause many missed workdays and leave your employees feeling physically burnt out. Repetition may also wear out the body and cause major problems. It is your responsibility to know about safety awareness and accident prevention.
How to Prevent Overexertion Injuries
The best way to prevent these types of injuries is by giving your team the proper amount of breaks needed to do the jobs. If the industry you are in requires a lot of heavy lifting, ensure that everyone gets multiple breaks to stretch and relax their bodies. Provide your team with the best protective equipment.
4. Exposure to Harmful Substances
If the industry you are in requires employees to be around pesticides or other harmful chemicals to breathe in, these substances could cause a workplace accident. However, there are other harmful substances to consider: radiation, extreme temperatures, and oxygen deficiencies. All of these can be considered workplace incidents and accidents.
How To Avoid Exposure To Harmful Substances
You need to ensure that your entire team has the best protective equipment and personal gear to help keep them safe. You should also always ensure that proper ventilation is constantly happening throughout your building. If you know there will be hot temperatures, provide a safe way for your employees to access freshwater multiple times throughout the day. Learn more about heat illness prevention.
5. Fire And Explosions
If there are substances that are stored wrong, they could combust, starting fires. Explosions and fires actually account for 3% of workplace injuries and should be taken very seriously. This could be a risk if there are faulty gas lines or combustible materials present.
How To Prevent Explosions and Fire Related Accidents
One of the best ways to prevent accidents in the workplace is by knowing the exact problem. If you know that explosions could occur, you need to determine how you can personally limit that risk for your company. There are hazard communication standards that you should be telling your entire team to ensure their safety. Store chemicals properly and have your gas lines inspected regularly.
6. Moving Machinery
Machines that move and are not properly safeguarded are a danger in the workplace. Someone can end up getting stuck in the moving machine or even pinned under the machine. This can be true with many different types of equipment. This can be a serious workplace incident.
How To Prevent Mechanical Hazards
One strategy for workplace injury prevention is to ensure that everyone knows how to use heavy machinery. The next step you can take is to keep foot traffic to a minimum where the heavy machinery is operating. If anyone needs to work alongside the moving machinery, ensure that they have the proper personal protective gear.
Safety By Design Can Help Implement Safe Workplace Practices
Learning how to prevent incidents in the workplace is a skill that you acquire over time. The best way is to design your business in a way that will make sense and limit safety-related incidents.
Safety by Design is a top safety consulting firm in Texas that goes above and beyond to keep your employees safe and operations running smoothly. We can help you understand what your next steps are and how to help prevent work injuries from happening. We will support you in every way we can, including training, guidance, and anything else you need.
Contact us online today to find out how we can help.
