As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This remarkable quote is especially applicable to the prevention of incidents and accidents in the workplace. Even if employees don’t operate in a hazardous environment, they are still prone to other injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders, burns, and strains. Be sure to take a quick look at the most common, but often overlooked safety injuries in the workplace!
Overexertion
When most people think of overexertion, they usually picture people involved in strenuous physical activity in an outdoor or athletic environment. Not many people realize injuries produced by overexertion are some of the most common injuries that occur in the workplace. Overexertion can be caused by a wide variety of activities including lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling a heavy object. These actions can negatively affect the joints in the body and can cause strains and sprains.
There are many different ways to prevent overexertion. When lifting, remember to bend your knees and keep the object close to your body. Also, always take your time when moving an item and don’t be afraid to ask for help if the item is exceptionally heavy.
Slipping/Tripping
Though at sometimes it might seem comical, both slipping and tripping can cause serious injuries, especially in construction environments. Primary causes of slipping and falling include wet surfaces and scattered items obstructing walkways. Maintaining a clean work environment is the key to reducing any risks of slipping or tripping in your workspace. Both bathroom and office environments should be cleaned frequently as messy environments can increase risks of tripping and lead to other health hazards. Having a neat and organized work environment will also help you spot other potential safety hazards and increase the overall efficiency of the office.
Fire Safety
Though you may be well informed of the fire safety protocols and procedures in your workspace, don’t assume your employees or coworkers are equally aware. Fires can result not only in significant monetary costs, but also serious burns and even the loss of human life. Due to the extreme danger of fires, fire safety training is highly recommended for employees. OpenSesame has a large selection of fire safety courses covering prevention strategies, evacuation tips, and other important topics.
Walking Into Injuries
With so many people texting or browsing the internet while walking, it is no surprise that many injuries occur simply because of people walking or running into stationary objects such as doors, windows, and walls.
Once again, a clean and organized work environment will reduce the risk of any type of these injuries. You also want to be on the lookout for employees who are taking shortcuts or rushing through tasks. Such activities are clear and dangerous signs of both carelessness and negligence. These employees can be a danger not only to themselves, but also a danger to their coworkers.
Repetitive Motion
With more and more jobs involving typing and working with computers, the number of repetitive motion injuries is increasingly rapidly. Repetitive motion injuries occur after repeated use of a specific muscle or body part. Though employees might think repetitive motion injuries may seem trivial, don’t be afraid to repeatedly enunciate the common negative long term effects of repetitive motion including vision problems and back problems. If you aren’t aware of the concept of musculoskeletal disorders, OpenSesame offers an excellent selection of courses about ergonomics in the workplace.
Safety should always be a priority within a company. Feel free to check out our extensive library of safety courses for further safety information and guidelines!