Accidents can happen in any type of work environment, whether it’s a corporate office or a construction site. The severity of the injuries that result from these accidents can be controlled. With the appropriate safety precautions in place, injuries can be kept at a minimum. But to prepare for these accidents, you need to be familiar with them.
Here are the most common causes of workplace injuries in Australia:
Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls are among the most common causes of workplace injuries. Typically, these injuries are caused by slippery, uneven or hazardous surfaces. The injuries from these accidents can range from bruised knees to a broken bone.
How to Prevent Injuries:
- Make sure all floors are clean of any liquid during business hours.
- Provide custodians with the necessary warning signs to inform passersby of wet floors.
- Repair damaged floors, such as loose carpets or uneven floorboards.
Falling Objects
Anyone is at risk of being hit by a falling object. Although this is more common in high-risk work environments, like warehouses and factories, it is also typical in office settings. For example, someone can accidentally drop a stapler onto another employee’s foot.
How to Prevent Injuries:
- In high-risk work environments, provide employees with safety hard hats to prevent serious head injuries.
- Set up warning signs in areas that are prone to falling debris.
- In low-risk work environments, adopt a dress code that requires employees to wear closed shoes.
Manual Handling
Muscle strain and other types of musculoskeletal injuries are prone when employees have to handle heavy materials. These are caused by different reasons, such as the lack of training, the utilisation of inadequate equipment and the absence of breaks.
How to Prevent Injuries:
- Provide employees with the necessary training in manually handling heavy objects.
- Invest in the appropriate lifting equipment, especially if most of your materials are large, heavy and irregularly shaped.
- Give employees enough time to take breaks in-between moving objects.
Mental Stress
Mental fatigue, burn out and other non-physical work issues can lead to frequent absenteeism. Although these aren’t the traditional workplace injury, they still negatively impact business performance. They can also lead to frustrations, which can result in physical fights among your employees.
How to Prevent Injuries:
- Improve communication with employees to prevent misunderstandings.
- Support HR in developing employee engagement programmes.
- Create a work environment where employees feel empowered.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries at work can be caused by faulty wiring, explosions or contact with corrosive materials. Anyone is at risk of exposure to these hazardous situations, no matter the type of workplace.
How to Prevent Injuries:
- Hire an electrician to inspect your wiring and to repair anything that is faulty or damaged.
- Train employees on how to apply first-aid on burn injuries.
- Make sure fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems are fully functional.
- Label storage spaces that contain corrosive materials.
Creating a safe and healthy work environment requires adequate preparation. Make sure your workplace has the necessary precautionary measures to prevent injury-causing situations or risks.
