The workplace is something familiar to almost all of us. If you don’t work from home, then you likely go to an office, company building, store, plant, or other type of workplace location. Both employers and employees should take reasonable steps to maintain proper safety procedures for everybody onsite. Workplace fatalities are an unfortunate occurrence for some. OSHA reports that over 5,000 workers in the United States died in 2019 due to workplace accidents. Here are some common workplace injuries and how you might avoid them to save yourself from the hassle of having to find a job site accident lawyer.
Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere. The reasons can range from someone simply being distracted while walking, to unsafe conditions like slippery floors. This can also happen if someone is carrying too heavy or too unwieldy of a load, either on or off a ladder, causing a loss of balance and a fall.
To prevent slip and fall accidents, simply be aware of your surroundings. If you pay attention to where you’re going and what’s around you, it’s likely that this type of accident can be completely avoided. Also, refrain from lifting or carrying things that are too heavy that might cause you to lose your balance. And practice safe ladder techniques, such as always having at least three points of contact on the ladder, and never going above the final rung on the ladder.
Driving Accidents
Aside from driving to and from the workplace, your job may require you to be on the road for short or long periods of time. Car accidents are common and they are usually the result of inattentiveness by one or more drivers. Even if you are a safe driver, there is always a risk that another driver on the road will cause an accident that you will unfortunately be involved in.
To prevent these kinds of accidents, practice safe driving habits. Always use your turn signals, obey traffic signs and speed limits, and be aware of other drivers on the road. If another driver is driving erratically, give them plenty of distance so that you are not involved if they cause an accident.
Respiratory Issues
Your job might expose you to substances that can be harmful if inhaled. If this is something regular at your job, there are likely several guidelines that you’ve been instructed to follow. But if it is uncommon (such as using industrial cleaning products for a big spill) you might not be aware of the danger of the substance.
To prevent this type of incident, always read and acknowledge the directions of any kind of substance you come in contact with, and ask your employer for protective materials such as gloves and eye goggles if necessary.
Falling Objects
We’ve all been there; You have to get something from a very high shelf and can just barely reach it, so you try to nudge it closer, only for it to fall off the shelf. This is very dangerous as it can cause big injuries by crushing, even leading to death if it hits a small child or animal (such as in a retail store or other workplace where customers are a factor).
To prevent this, always make sure you can reach the object safely. Use a ladder if necessary, and do not attempt to awkwardly stand on counters or other non-stable objects to attempt to reach the item.
Safety should always be on your mind while at the workplace. Though it is naturally a place of business, you should never ignore standard safety practices while working and should always be attentive of your surroundings so that all employees, employers, and customers can enjoy safe business transactions.