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Have you ever been injured on the job? It costs both you and your employer time and money. Thousands of workplace accidents occur each year at a cost of millions of dollars. More than 80 percent of those were avoidable.
Safety is an attitude we must all adopt. Safety is a joint effort between employer and employee. Every accident could be avoided if only we were well-informed and cautious. Accident prevention doesn’t just happen though. It takes a bit of thought and training.
First, let’s discuss what the Top 5 Accidents in the workplace are:
- Sprains and Strains – Trying too hard to pick up on your boss’s conversation – that could lead to a strain in your neck. Maintain proper decorum at work!
- Slipping and falling – In a rush to get back from lunch before your boss? Watch out, in your hurry, you could slip and fall.
- Cuts and burns – Beware, you can even get a nasty paper cut!
- Injury due to improper usage of equipment, such as forklift – What can we say – follow proper procedures when handling equipment
- Inhalation or exposure to toxic fumes or hazardous materials – Use proper gear (masks etc) when needed.
What can we do to avoid accidents and work safely?
- Watch where you’re going!
- Be aware of dangerous surroundings
- Use caution around sharp objects or dangerous chemicals
- Learn to lift heavy objects properly
- Be well-trained before attempting to use machines.
No one wants to cut off a finger in a machine at work. But this type of accident occurs all the time. Even though the time off and sympathy you could get would be nice, you’ll miss that finger when baseball season rolls around.
Your safety is mostly up to you. No one can follow you around and warn you when you’re about to do something stupid. Stay focused at work. Don’t let your mind wander.
If an accident does occur, seek treatment at once. Your employer will want to look into the factors that led to your accident in order to make certain that no one else is injured. Maybe there was a greasy spot on the floor or a piece of equipment malfunctioned. These are issues that must be addressed quickly to avoid further injuries.
Remember: Safety in the workplace doesn’t just happen by accident!
Comments
Substance abuse is a primary contributor to workplace accidents and is linking to 50% of all incidents.
Workplace accidents will not be significantly reduced until effective random drug testing is deployed.
Note that the SAMHSA drug test program was NEVER a safety initiative. It was designed to exclusively address the use of illegal drugs (marijuane, cocaine, heroin, etc.), NOT prescription drug abuse. The latter at epidemic levels in our workplace and school environments.
Peter Cholakis
pcholakis@navigent3.com
BK8
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