Did you know there were 4,764 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2020? While there were many fatal accidents, there were even more non-fatal injuries and near misses.
Workplace accidents can give your
business a bad reputation, make employees unhappy, and reduce productivity.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to reduce workplace accidents.
What are some of the most common
causes of workplace accidents? Keep reading to learn what you can do to create
a safe work environment.
Overexertion
One of the biggest reasons why
employees are injured at work is overexertion. Overexertion can happen when an
employee tries to lift, push, pull, or carry something too heavy.
To prevent overexertion in the
workplace, you should have employees ask for help when moving heavy objects.
This can mean installing equipment to move heavy items for them or using
multiple people.
Poor
Lighting
Another cause of workplace accidents
is poor lighting. Whether you work in a factory, office building, parking lot,
or warehouse, it's essential to have good lighting to prevent injuries.
Employees will be less likely to
avoid obstacles in bad lighting, resulting in more trips, falls, and running
into objects. To prevent these injuries, make sure all work areas are well-lit
and ask employees for feedback on areas that are not.
Another great way to increase
visibility is to use custom printed safety apparel. Safety apparel can make employees easier to see and reduce
the risk of accidents.
Messy
Environment
To protect your employees, you
should maintain a clean working environment at all times. Not only does a messy
environment increase stress and reduce productivity, but it is also
dangerous.
When items are lying around, your
employees are more likely to trip and fall. A messy environment can also make
it difficult to see sharp objects and hazardous materials.
Fatigue
and Stress
Another common cause of workplace
injuries is fatigue and stress. When your employees feel tired and stressed,
they are more likely to make careless mistakes.
To prevent fatigue and stress, try
scheduling regular breaks and stretching sessions. You also should avoid
overworking employees and give them resources to improve their lives.
Offering employees benefits like
health care, a gym, and counseling can lower stress.
Overconfidence
While you want employees to feel
confident at work, overconfidence can lead to workplace injuries. When your
employees are overconfident, they are less likely to double-check their work or
lift items that are too heavy.
They may even bypass safety
precautions because they are confident in their ability to perform the job.
Make sure your employees know that accidents can happen at any time, and they
have to always follow the safety procedures put in place.
Are
You Ready to Avoid These Workplace Accidents?
Workplace accidents can lower
employee morale, damage your company's reputation, and cause stress. Some of
the most common causes of employee injuries include overexertion, poor
lighting, and a messy environment.
Did you find this article on
workplace safety helpful? If so, check out the blog for more similar
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