Employers are responsible for keeping their employees safe from injury. Of course, some industries are more susceptible to injuries than others, but even employees who work at jobs that seem “safe” can suffer an injury at work and file a personal injury claim.
Here’s how to go about creating a safe workplace environment, according to the professionals at Grillo Law.
Prevent Trips, Slips, and Falls
No matter what industry your business is in and no matter where you’re located, if you have employees walking around the workplace, you have the potential for trips, slips, and falls. These types of injuries are responsible for one-third of all personal injuries in the workplace, mostly because people can trip, slip, or fall anywhere. Injuries range from scrapes and bruises to broken bones, strained backs, and head injuries.
You can help prevent trips, slips, and falls in your workplace by having adequate lighting, such as a Ufo led high bay light , covering cables that cross walkways, keeping clutter to a minimum, fixing uneven surfaces quickly (and warning employees of these surfaces until they are fixed), clearing snow and ice from outdoor walkways, cleaning up spills immediately, and requiring appropriate footwear.
Of course, you may not be able to prevent all trips, slips, and falls, but by having diligent maintenance practices and strong policies, you can mitigate the risk.
Prevent Repetitive Stress and Overexertion Injuries
The fastest growing category of personal injury claims in the workplace is repetitive stress injuries. These occur when employees repeat a motion required for their job so many times that their body parts basically wear out. Overexertion injuries are also on the rise because of a lack of knowledge about their prevention.
Ergonomics and proper training are the keys to preventing repetitive stress and overexertion injuries. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome occurs from constant typing and other activities that require the use of the wrist. However, if the employee is typing in the correct position, their risk of getting this condition goes down significantly .
Teaching employees how to lift heavy objects properly and providing technology and equipment to lift these items for them can also prevent these injuries.
Prevent Motor Vehicle Accidents
If your business requires the use of motor vehicles, it has an increased risk of personal injury claims from motor vehicle accidents. Again, the best way to mitigate this risk is to ensure your employees are properly trained in operating the motor vehicles required for their job. If they have to drive vehicles off the property, requiring an operator’s test every so often is also a good practice.
For businesses that have motor vehicles in operation on the property, where other employees are walking, make sure your workplace is designed to avoid as much contact with the vehicles as possible. Additionally, place warning signs around the area where the vehicles are in operation and make sure any obstructions are clearly visible.
Conclusion
Workplace injuries are responsible for millions of dollars of lost revenue and productivity each year. Don’t be one of those statistics. Take time to put these injury prevention tips to use and make your workplace as safe as possible.