Regardless of severity, accidents at the workplace aren’t something employers or workers should take lightly. Between minor bumps and bruises to more critical injuries like chemical burns and broken bones, on-the-job impairments affect thousands of employees each year.
Although workplace safety laws and regulations are in place to help reduce incidents, some employers irresponsibly disregard guidelines leaving staff vulnerable to hazardous environments. Unfortunately, no amount of caution can eradicate on-site accidents altogether, as some injuries are unpredictable and unavoidable, even with posted guidelines and careful laborers.
Should you fall victim to a workplace accident, turning to experts is a critical step to ensure you’re adequately compensated and cared for during the healing process. Reputable injury attorneys like those at Schwartzapfel Lawyers will advocate for your rights as workers, ultimately saving you months of frustration and substantial medical bills.
Despite how frequently dangerous incidents occur at work, you can sidestep hazards and potential injuries by following safety guidelines, participating in training protocols, utilizing protective equipment, and familiarizing yourself with avoidable accidents. Read on for a glimpse into common workspace mishaps.
Poor lighting
An often overlooked culprit of workplace mishaps is inadequate lighting, resulting in trips, cuts, falls, and various other injuries. In addition, dim lighting causes poor visualization, making it challenging for workers to assess conditions, avert hazards, and maneuver the floor safely, specifically in warehouse environments.
Heavy lifting
Unfortunately, lifting-induced injuries resulting in thrown-out backs, intense muscle strain, painful ligament tears are common amongst employees. Hoisting up and maneuvering large objects requires special techniques, equipment, or multiple people—a guideline many workers ignore out of overconfidence or lack of resources. Failure to follow proper protocol often ends in back and muscle strains that can take an extended period to heal.
Tripping and falling
As employees navigate their workspace, slippery floors, jam-packed walkways, improper footwear, and extreme weather conditions significantly increase their chances of stumbling. While a simple trip may not seem particularly dangerous to some, slips and falls account for a large portion of workplace accidents each year, sometimes resulting in sprained ankles, broken bones, and deep bruises.
Fatigued employees
To keep the workplace safe and accident-free, employers and employees need to work together to create a safe, comfortable environment. Unfortunately, while companies frequently fall short with unregulated spaces and improper resources, staff members also play a large part in unsafe environments when they show up ill-prepared and fatigued. Tired, groggy employees are prone to mistakes, often skipping steps or slacking off, resulting in dangerous working conditions.
Stress
Along with employee fatigue, stressed-out staff often forget critical safety guidelines and rush processes resulting in hazardous environments for everyone. Showing up to work with the right mindset, free from physical and mental stress, is critical to maintaining a safe, danger-free workplace.
Hazardous materials
Those working with hazardous materials—like strong chemicals or sharp objects—have an increased risk of workplace incidents. To evade chemical burns, poisonous injections, and puncture wounds, employers should equip staff with PPE and run through safety protocols before allowing employees to handle dangerous substances.
Taking shortcuts
When employees feel rushed, they often take shortcuts to circumvent time-consuming protocols to achieve their daily goals. While it may seem insignificant to ignore specific safety guidelines, skipping steps and moving with haste can result in costly mistakes, physical injury, and dangerous situations.
Lack of preparation
Unfortunately, employees who routinely perform tasks without customary training, certificates, or know-how are at a higher risk of workplace accidents. Therefore, ensure you’re up-to-date on any safety courses, understand how to perform each task on your plate effectively, and have the required PPE to ensure you remain safe and sound during the workday.
Wrapping up
Although workplace accidents are common, especially in physically demanding job sites, there are ways to circumvent dangerous incidents and injuries. Familiarizing yourself with typical mishaps, like poor lighting, employee fatigue, slips, and falls allows you to watch out for potential danger and report negligence to your employer or local OSHA office.
