Did you know that slips and falls are the third leading cause of workplace injuries?
The injury rate for slips and falls is around 21.7 per 10,000 workers. While you may think that a common slip isn’t that bad, these injuries can result in losing around 14 days of work. This could be a massive blow to many households around the country.
This is why it’s so important to understand the most common workplace injuries so that you can learn how to avoid them. Taking the necessary steps to avoid injuries doesn’t just keep you safe, they also allow you to continue working. In this way, there are both health and financial benefits to staying safe while you’re on the job.
Want to learn more about the most common workplace injuries? Read this helpful guide for more information on common injuries along with how to avoid them.
Common Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries are far more common than you may think. These injuries can range from slips to major collisions and crashes while you’re at work. Here’s a quick look at the most common workplace injuries that you should know about.
1. Slips and Falls
As mentioned above, slips and falls are responsible for thousands of workplace injuries every year. Falls should never be ignored as you could hurt your head, back or even fracture a bone because of your fall.
2. Strains
Stains can take longer to develop but are incredibly common in the workplace. Employees can strain their backs or neck when lifting supplies or delivering goods. There are techniques that you can use to avoid strains, which should always be taught to new employees.
3. Cuts
If you work with sharp equipment, there is a risk of getting cut while you’re at work. Cuts should always be treated by medical professionals just to make sure that you’re okay.
4. Repetitive Use Injuries
Repetitive use injuries are common in both manufacturing and administrative settings. If you continuously do the same tasks every day, it can take a toll on your physical health. This is why ergonomics is so important in the modern workplace.
5. Collisions and Crashes
Collisions and crashes are the most dangerous workplace injuries. If you’re operating a forklift or delivering goods in a van, the risk of crashing or someone crashing into you is higher. It’s important to make sure that your employees are screened before giving them access to any vehicles or heavy equipment.
Avoiding Workplace Injuries
There are steps that can be taken to avoid workplace injuries. These steps are the responsibility of your employer, but there are things you can do to stay safe as well. Here’s a quick look at the best ways to avoid workplace injuries.
1. Conduct Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are important for employers to ensure that the workplace is safe for everyone. These assessments should happen as often as possible so that solutions can be implemented before anything major happens.
2. Offer Safety Training
Safety training is vital for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Safety should also be incorporated into the onboarding process so that new employees are given the guidance they need from their first day on the job.
Safety training should also be given to your older employees. This is why many companies decide to have a dedicated safety day every few months. Safety days help teach new safety skills but also refresh everyone’s memories.
3. Screen New Employees
When bringing on new employees, make sure to screen them. This will help prevent giving someone keys when they don’t have the best driving record.
4. Hire Enough Workers
It’s important to hire enough workers for the job. Understaffing puts more pressure on your employees and can lead to various workplace injuries.
5. Keep the Workplace Clean
Maintaining your workspace is the simplest way to keep your employees safe. This is because it drastically reduces the chances of you slipping and falling at work. This will also help you spot hazards early so that you can remove them.
6. Invest in Protective Gear
When someone is brought into your company, make sure that they have all the protective gear that they need. This will help them avoid common workplace injuries and also provides the opportunity for you to do safety training with them.
7. Improve Communication
Communication is essential for all businesses. Investing in communication can help your entire company operate like clockwork. Even simple investments like radios can help your employees talk to each other without screaming and causing chaos in the workplace.
The Importance of Workers’ Comp Insurance
Workers’ comp insurance is designed to help cover medical expenses and injury claims. This insurance policy is essential to provide employees with peace of mind when they’re at work. The last thing you need is to be injured and suffer financially at the same time.
Claim for Common Work Injuries Today
It’s important to understand common workplace injuries so that you can learn how to prevent them from happening in the first place. While many of these interventions are the responsibility of your employer, there are things you can do as well. These measures will keep you safe and ensure that you don’t miss work due to an injury.
With this being said, if you’re ever injured on the job, a work injury lawyer can step in to help you. Contact us at Hollington Brown LLP so that we can help you file a workers’ comp injury claim.
