Most Common Workplace Injuries to Be Aware of
All sorts of different injuries can occur in the workplace, but having a better overall knowledge of what these happen to be can put you in a much stronger position to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
With this in mind, the following blog post will be taking a closer look at a few of the most common workplace injuries that have the potential to occur daily, as well as some preventative methods that you can take.
Slips and Trips
At the top of the list of potential workplace injuries that could result in an injury and a call to legal support, such as The Rawlins Firm, are slips and trips. These have the potential of being relatively minor, but they could also be a lot more serious if they involve falling from a height or the person is already suffering from a pre-existing injury of some description.
One of the best ways of stopping these from happening is to simply keep the type of workspace that is spic and span. People often trip as a result of a chaotic environment. Clear signage warning workers of potential hazards can also help prevent injuries resulting from slips, trips, and falls.
Muscle Strains and Overexertion
While these are more common in the type of working environments in which manual labor is more necessary, there is no doubt that muscle strains and overexertion can also take place in an office environment as well. To begin with, an issue that can result in them is improper lifting technique, which means that practical training needs to be given to prevent this from becoming a problem in the first place.
Not only this, but people trying to lift too much can also have the same experience, which can be combatted by ensuring enough people are on hand to take care of whatever the job is.
If any strain does end up occurring, enough rest period must be allowed to prevent the chance that they will be made any worse for any reason. Inappropriate desk height, unsupportive office chairs, and inadequate equipment can also cause unnecessary strains of the neck and back for office workers, which can be easily prevented if the proper measures are taken.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain-related injuries can occur in office and manual labor environments. Ultimately, it is going to be a result of doing the same thing time and time again, which is why they often have the potential to occur when people are typing.
One of the best ways of combatting the problem and preventing it from happening in the first place is ensuring that people are given enough rest periods to recover rather than being expected to keep on working through without any proper break periods.
Vision Issues
Problems with vision can also occur in those who are expected to look at screens for extended periods. Vision issues are becoming more and more frequent among in-office workers. Again, one of the best ways of combatting these problems is simply going to be allowing people to take breaks away from their screens regularly.
It is advised that workers take a five-minute break once every hour to give their eyes a rest. At the same time, it is also the case that regular eye tests can be offered as these can help to pick up on any problems sooner rather than later. As a result, glasses and other prescriptions can be offered to reduce the strain on the eyes.
Common Workplace Injuries to Be Aware of: Getting Struck by Falling Objects
It is also a common problem that falling objects can easily result in injuries. Whether it is the case that boxes have simply been piled up too high or people are trying to reach for something that they cannot extend to, falling objects are dangerous.
One of the best ways to prevent these problems from happening in the first place is to ensure that a proper risk assessment has been undertaken. At the same time, it should also be the case that heavy objects are not going to be stored at a significant height.
Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
Plenty of harmful chemicals exist in a working environment, and it is undoubtedly essential that these are stored and worked with properly. Again, training is going to be an essential defense mechanism that you have in place.
Also, providing all the necessary personal protective equipment will offer a major helping hand. Not only this, but regular review processes will also play a big role in stopping issues relating to dangerous chemical misuse from occurring.
All of these are workplace injuries that have the potential to occur, and it is essential to be aware of them whether you are an employer or a staff member. Employers should also have the correct safeguarding measures in place to prevent accidents.
This way, you are going to put yourself in the most vital position to prevent them from happening in the first place. Prevention will always be far better than the cure and will always be worth bearing firmly in mind at all times.
