Common Workplace Injuries & How to Prevent Them

According to the National Safety Council, every seven seconds an employee is injured on the job. Work injuries not only affect the employee, but their colleagues and employer. Fortunately, there are precautions that companies can put in place to help prevent these most common work place injuries. These injuries include the following:

Slips & Falls

Slips and falls are a large liability to a company. A person can fall and, in the process, hit their head, injure their back or fracture a bone.

To prevent slips and falls clean spills immediately, use appropriate signage to indicate a wet floor, install handrails in heavy trafficked areas of stairs in the workplace and encourage employees to use non-slip shoes or soles if applicable.

Strains

One of the most common workplace injuries is employees straining their back or neck. Strains typically occur when employees try to lift supplies or a delivery without the proper technique or equipment.

Recommend safety harnesses, back braces and lifting aids where possible. Train employees on smart lifting techniques and post educational materials around your company with reminders to proper lifting technique.

Repetitive Use Injuries

Repetitive use injuries can be brought on by administrative, manufacturing, and processing tasks. But really any movements done all day, multiple days a week, without rest can, lead to a repetitive use injury.

Setting regular breaks and ergonomic workstations based on employee size and stature helps prevent injury. Encouraging employees to maintain their physical health through yearly physicals or preventative health programs can also prevent long term repetitive use injuries.

Cuts

Letter openers, box cutters and sharp edges on office equipment have been to know to injure employees to the point of needing a workers’ compensation claim.

Prevention of cuts can begin with proper training for those tools, as well as limiting where and what tools, like box cutters, can be used. Keeping office equipment and furniture in good condition also prevents hazardous edges and unwanted lacerations.

Collisions and Crashes

Prime examples of work-related collisions and crashes, include driving forklifts, sales reps visiting clients in personal or company cars and trailer operators. Collision and crashes in small mobile machinery or vehicles are not covered by commercial vehicle insurance if the employee is on the job, meaning these claims can increase workers’ compensation insurance costs.

Proper background checks on a candidate’s driving history, regular drug testing and training on company equipment helps protect against collisions and crashes. Encouraging employees to take breaks when tired on the road also prevents dangerous incidents and accidents.

Mercy's Work Injury Rehab partners with your business to create programs that reduce and prevent workplace injuries. Our services help employees perform job duties safely and return to work with the skills and knowledge they need to avoid re-injury. For more information please contact us at (319) 558-0311 or blswanson@mercycare.org.