Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere, anytime, and in any workplace, whether you work in a factory or have a desk job. Although some industries such as construction and manufacturing are more prone to accidents and injuries, we can’t discount the fact that they can be costly to the worker and the company. Say, if you manage a construction site in Lincolnshire, UK, it’s best to safeguard your employees from workplace accidents, and take all the necessary safety measures to avoid employees from getting injured and end up contacting law firms to get compensation for workplace accidents which could be both messy and costly.

But to properly plan your workplace’s safety measures, it’s essential to know the common workplace accidents and injuries, and ways to prevent them from happening:

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Whether you work in a manufacturing firm or work in an office, slipping, tripping, or falling could happen to you.

These are among the most common injuries in any workplace, and can easily be avoided by making sure that the workplace floor is clear from any spills and clutter, and to make sure that there are signs and protective railing to protect one from falling.

Muscle Strain, Overexertion, Repetitive Motion Injuries

Numerous workplace injuries could cause pain and limit one’s movement. Starting with extremes, any heavy exertion of force such as pulling, lifting, or carrying could cause strain and other muscle-and-bone related injuries that can be painful and debilitating. And repetitive motions such as sitting down and typing for an extended period can cause carpal tunnel syndrome as well as strain to the neck and back.

To avoid these, it’s vital that your workers are adequately trained on handling and in the use of equipment, as well as using ergonomic equipment to prevent injuries and improve comfort. Giving access to equipment and machine (forklifts, pulleys, carts) that would help with lifting or pulling or transporting heavy materials and equipment would help avoid muscle strain and overexertion.

Machine and Equipment Related Injuries

This includes pinching, impact injuries, burns, abrasions, cuts, and other injuries that are caused by the use of equipment and machines. These injuries could range from something as simple and ordinary as hitting one’s fingers with a hammer, or something potentially life and limb threatening as having sleeves or hair getting caught up in machines.

Proper training, safety tools such as gloves and visors, warning signs, and self-awareness could help prevent these types of injuries.

Crash, Collisions, and Vehicle-Related Injuries

Vehicle-related injuries aren’t only limited to those on the road. It’s possible for vehicles such as bulldozers, mobile cranes, lorries or even forklifts to be involved in a crash or collision, or an operational accident within the workplace and could damage property and goods, as well as potentially injuring (or even fatally wounding) the driver and anyone nearby.

It’s vital to ensure that all vehicles are well-maintained, properly stored, and promptly repaired if any issues are found, to ensure the safety of those operating them and those nearby. It’s also essential to have proper and constant communication with regards to the position and operation of vehicles in the workplace, as well as making sure that those who use operational vehicles are adequately trained in maneuvering and operating them. Additionally, those involved in the logistics and transport of goods and equipment on the road should strictly follow traffic rules and basic driving safety tips.

Conclusion

Although these are the common workplace injuries and accidents, it’s important to note that there are other less common accidents that could still happen due to lack of safety measures or awareness, so make sure that you also look up on all the possible injuries and accidents in your industry or line of work and take the necessary steps to safeguard you and your workforce. The bottom line is that it’s not enough to follow mandated safety requirements, but you be aware of what could happen wrong so you can prevent them from happening or at least have a plan on what to do in case it happens.