Workplace accidents can virtually happen in every type of work environment.
Sure, people working in different conditions and settings are subject to various degrees of injuries: it’s evident how a construction worker has to face a greater level of risk than an office employee.
Construction is probably the most dangerous industry, where 4 of the top 10 causes of death happen. However, even apparently safe environments and all professions can become victims of an accident: think about back issues or carpal tunnel syndrome caused by constant sitting and working with a computer.
That said, what are the top 10 causes of workplace injuries?
1. Slips and trips
Slips and trips are one of the biggest causes of injury at work. The reason is simple: regardless what your specific work environment is – from a simple shop to a construction site – you have a big chance to find slippery surfaces almost everywhere.
Slip accidents may be caused even by small, unrecognizable hazards like cracks in the sidewalks or wet flooring and can be very risky and dangerous, depending on the surface you are falling on: broken bones, fractures, cuts and lacerations, sprains, back, knee and wrist injuries are only some of the them.
The most common reasons which cause slips are:
- Wet or oily surfaces
- Spills
- Bad weather
- Slippery floors or loose rugs
While trips usually happen because of:
- Unclear or obstructed view
- Bad lightning
- Uncovered cables
- Clutter
Ideally, you should always be walking on perfect quality walking surfaces. When it’s not possible, though, the main rule is always to wear proper footwear or even safety shoes: they will protect you against the majority of these risks.
2. Falling from heights
Falling from heights is another of the biggest causes of work injuries and, again, it can lead to similar bad injuries: severe back problems, broken bones, sprains and cuts.
Falls are usually a consequence of:
- Distraction
- Working on precarious balance (ex. ladders)
- Dizziness
As you can imagine, the rule is simple: the higher, the riskier. If you are working with ladders, try to place their base on an even, solid surface. Even more caution has to be applied by those who work in construction sites.
3. Overexertion and muscle strains
People who regularly move heavy objects at work know how often excessive straining can cause injuries: pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying are only some of the ways which can easily and seriously harm your body.
Repetitive motions are on the same track and often underestimated as we often move objects with incorrect body posture without even realizing it. However, our body is really affected by them in the long run. Try to avoid benching, reaching and twisting when lifting.
4. Crashes, collisions and vehicle accidents
Accidents from crashes and collisions are quite frequent in two cases:
- If you drive for business purposes
- If you work in an environment where small vehicles like forklift trucks are used
People who drive as part of their jobs can easily be exposed to factors like negligent drivers or dangerous weather, while workers who spend many hours around moving vehicles face a big risk of getting hurt in a collision.
Hard or even fatal consequences can directly come from this type of accident and all the best precautions have to be taken, from proper seat belts to adequate training to drivers and workers in general.
5. Machine entanglement
As an extension to previous point, if you work in an environment where heavy equipment and machines are used you must be very careful.
Getting some part of your body or clothes caught in or struck by some component of some specific machine while not wearing some protective equipment may result in unpleasant, disastrous results: terrible consequences are possible like crushed arms or hands, severed fingers, blindness and so on.
6. Falling objects
Falling objects represent a problem in a lot of different work environments. Warehouses are probably one of the first places which will come to your mind – where a lot of stuff is stored on high shelves – but not the only one: think about construction sites or all these jobs where you are obliged to wear safety hard hats.
If you work in a warehouse or a similar environment, the first step is always to invest some time to store items safely. However, wearing proper safety equipment can help you to drastically reduce all the risks.
7. Walking or running into hazards
It can sound funny or even “stupid, but literally walking into concrete objects like doors, cabinets, machines, walls, glass and so on happens way more than expected. It can happen because you were a bit mind-absent or simply because your workplace is not structured.
Needless to say, the solution is simple: reminding employees to be as vigilant as possible and consider moving unnecessary objects and hazards out of the way when not strictly necessary.
8. Electrocution
Electrocution-related injuries can happen in various cases:
- Working around exposed cord of wires
- Faulty electrical outlets
- Hitting underground cables while digging
All electrical hazards should always be identified from the beginning and workers should be properly informed about them.
9. Fights at work
You can think it’s something rare or related to movies, but workplace violence is not that uncommon.
Having a stressful job with many responsibilities can lead to bubble tensions for long times, till that moment when they spill over into physical confrontation. Sometimes, simply a wrong word or a honest misunderstanding can be enough.
Fights in the workplace, unfortunately, are way riskier than normal ones: surrounding environment, equipment, machinery and dangerous tools can be on the way and become particularly dangerous.
10. Mental Stress
While someone could be laughing at this – and consider stress not something serious – overwork and severe fatigue can cause mental stress, an issue which more than 5% of workers suffer from.
We often connect the word “injury” to something necessarily physical and underestimate the power of our minds, but psychological stress and constant bad thoughts can lead to anxiety and depression.
To reduce workplace stress, employers should be happy to encourage regular breaks and organize regular meetings and catch-ups with their staff to make sure they feel comfortable with their surroundings and colleagues. If your boss doesn’t do it, don’t be ashamed to speak to him and discuss your ideas.
How to avoid workplace accidents?
Never forget to maintain alertness to be aware of what is happening around you and always use maximum caution around high-risk areas. Sometimes you are not able to predict totally unexpected events and being focused can make the difference between a scratch and fatal consequences.
If you are interested in knowing more about it, check our tips on how to stay safe at work!