Five workplace accidents that are preventable
With safety may come some probability of an actual accident which safety officers and professionals may not have control of most times. While safety is important, it is much more important to see if such accident can be avoided. Let me say, if we can avoid it, why not? then try looking for a way to fix it after it’s done. This article will focus on workplace accidents that are preventable, these accidents can be avoided and their effect can be avoided significantly if we work it out.
1. Object injuries
Objects that fall from shelves or are dropped by another person can cause very serious injuries. The most common injury from a fallen object is a head injury.
Store/stack materials in a safe and secure manner, use signage in areas where debris may fall and ensure proper PPE is in use. The use of an area where falls can easily control or stopped is recommended preventing this type of accident.
2. Accident from heights
Falls that happen from an elevated area such as roofs, ladders, and stairways may be caused by slip and fall incidents and/or due to faulty equipment.
Accidents of this nature can be reduced by the use of proper personal protection gear, installation of guard rails and other engineered devices, training and employee diligence. Also, people who have a phobia for heights should not be recommended for this work regardless.
3. Overexertion Injuries
Actions like pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing often come with their own inflected Injuries, although this injury is preventable if caution is focused on them.
Train employees on the proper way to perform physical activities, utilize equipment and lean practice to eliminate potential exertion hazards, ensure that employees are given ample breaks to rest in jobs that could result in overexertion.
4. Reaction injuries
Reaction injuries are caused by slipping and tripping without falling and can cause muscle
injuries, body trauma, and a variety of other medical issues.
Areas that are slippery can be fixed using rugs/strips near entrances/exits, labeling or making uneven walkways and keeping work spaces clean and uncluttered. This helps prevent accidents which may lead to reactions.
5. Tripping and Slipping
These are injuries caused when working/walking area is exposed to water or foreign matter.
Ensure that Non-Slip rugs are placed in potentially slippery areas, use signage to indicate slipper areas/conditions, clearly label and/or cover uneven areas/cords on the floor, train employees on proper management of spills and clean-up of debris.
While all the above-mentioned injuries can be prevented, it is also advisable to be cautious of all our activities to ensure safety.