Workplace injuries can happen anywhere, regardless of your industry or the setting. And more often than not, these injuries can be quite serious, and even lead to long term injury. It’s in your best interest to avoid workplace injuries altogether, however, we don’t always have control over this.
Sometimes we can find ourselves hurt on the job regardless of how much we try to stay safe. And while it may be as simple as accepting our fate and looking for a workers comp lawyer in Chicago or wherever you live, ideally, it’s best not to get in the situation at all.
One of the most important steps for prevention is identifying what the most common workplace injuries are so you can in turn keep yourself safe and avoid them. To help you here are some of the most common workplace injuries and what you can do to avoid them.
Slips and Falls
Slips and falls are one of the most commonly reported workplace incidents. They usually result from slipping on wet floors or uneven surfaces, which can result in minor to major injuries.
Unfortunately, in some cases it can even lead to head injury which can cause long term damage. It’s important that you stay aware of your business’s flooring, and ensure that there are no testicles or hazards.
If there are any wet floors then you should make sure you put up a sign promptly. This will make sure that everyone knows there’s a hazard, and they should be careful when walking through that area. Just the simple act of warning people can make a world of difference in preventing accidents.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
In workplaces which require their employees to carry out the same action over and over, it can result in overexertion. Whether from operating machinery, or typing for long periods of time, this can not only lead to muscle disorders, but ultimately chronic pain.
It’s important that you train your employees on the proper lifting techniques like bending at the knees, and rotating tasks to prevent making the same movement over and over additionally, you should consider using tools like dollies which can help lighten the load and prevent putting extra strain on your muscles.
Objects Falling
Heavy machinery or sharp tools should always be kept in safe areas where they don’t risk falling on someone’s head or another part of their body. Otherwise, they can fall when you least expect them to and cause serious injury to yourself or your workers. Train your employees to secure equipment and tools, and wear the proper protection gear when necessary. Helmets and steel-toed boots can make a world of difference when keeping your body safe in a work environment.