Legal 101

5 Common Workplace Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Lorraine DindiLorraine Dindi
Last updated on:
August 27, 2024
Published on:
November 9, 2021

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Workplace accidents can strike unexpectedly, putting employee well-being in jeopardy and hindering smooth operations. Even with safety protocols, some hazards seem inescapable across industries, and taking steps toward prevention is always the best way to ensure a safer and more efficient work environment. The following are common workplace accidents, along with how you can prevent them.

1.   Vehicle Accident

These accidents often happen to employees working assignments requiring driving, like for delivery, sales representation, or transporting workers. They can cause serious injuries, property damage, and severe financial losses.

 

Unfortunately, some car accidents impact can be too massive and cause lifelong health complications or loss of life. A competent personal injury attorney is beneficial to ensure the affected family gets justice and a financial cushion. They will fight for maximal compensation for death in car accident through carefully crafted legal strategies. Through their experience, they know how best to deal with insurance companies and litigation processes.

 

All vehicles must be kept in good working condition by scheduling regular maintenance and inspections to manage this. Regular refresher courses should also be provided in addition to enforcing safe driving policies.

2.   Hit by Falling Objects

Objects falling from a height are at high risk in construction sites, warehouses, and production halls. They tend to occur due to poor store arrangement plans, leaving tools without securing them, or waste from work at an elevated position. Proper planning and organization should always be exercised to avoid falling objects.

 

Store tools and materials in safe and secure places, and ensure overhead working areas are barricaded. The employees should be issued adequate personal protective equipment, including advice on recognizing and avoiding hazards.

3.   Industrial Machinery Accidents

Injuries from machinery represent some of the most typical occurrences seen in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and other industries. These accidents can cause severe injuries, with victims suffering crushed body parts, amputations, or even death from the casualty. Most causes are usually poor training, poor maintenance, and not following safety operating procedures.

 

Workers handling machinery must be well-trained in operational standards to avert accidents. Preventive maintenance and inspection should help identify dangers and permit the correction of faults and malfunctions. The chances of an accident can be reduced by observing a strict safety protocol, which should form a lockout-tagout procedure. 

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4.   Workplace Violence

This can be defined as physical attacks, threats, and offensive behavior in the workplace. Causes of workplace violence include high stressful work environment, poor security, and lack of proper communication and conflict resolution techniques.

 

Prevention of violence should be proactive. Employers need to instill clear policies on workers' workplace conduct and train them to detect and defuse potentially violent situations. Increasing security measures, such as using surveillance cameras and controlling access points, can help deter violence from occurring.

5.   Slips, Trips, and Falls

They may occur anywhere from the office, at a construction site, to the stockroom. The causes usually include wet surfaces, rough patches on the floor, electrical wires lying around unattended, and poor illumination. It can cause injuries like sprain pains, while others are severe, like instances of broken limbs or even head injuries.

 

An arranged and orderly workspace will prevent these accidents. Always check the floors and pathways regularly for any hazards or spills. Set up warning signs and ensure adequate lighting in dark areas.

Endnote

Many workplace accidents can cost your business millions due to their impact on employee's lives. However, they can be avoided with proper preventive measures. By prioritizing safety, you will protect employees and ensure compliance with regulations. You will also foster a culture of responsibility, which can help attract new talent.

 

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