One in every ten construction site personnel is injured every year, according to a report by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2014, private industries reported more than three million non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the previous year. Â Although workplaces are generally guarded by security personnel and are equipped with surveillance devices, there is a different issue of accidents happening within the premises that have nothing to do with intruders.
Construction sites, offices, and restaurants have safety hazards that may lead to minor and fatal accidents. To get the right compensation, it’s important to get professional assistance. In Utah, for example, attorneys are available for personal injury cases caused by accidents that have occurred in the workplace.
Learn some of the common workplace accidents and their common causes.
Construction sites
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration named construction sites’ “Fatal Four”. These include falls, struck-bys, electrocutions, and caught-in/between (meaning getting caught in a running machine, crushed by a piece of equipment or a falling structure). 39.2% of deaths were caused by falling, 8.2% by being struck by an object, 7.3% by electrocution, and 5.1% caught-ins. Overall, these four fatal accidents have caused 59.9% of construction worker deaths in 2017.
For injuries alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported roughly 150,000 non-fatal injuries in construction sites every year. Falling is also the leading cause of injury among the workers.
These accidents may have happened due to negligence, carelessness, and non-compliance with safety regulations. The OSHA issued numerous detailed regulations regarding the safety standard for construction sites and equipment. Together with the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), OSHA launched the “Fall Prevention Campaign” to raise awareness on construction site fall hazards, and to help prevent these accidents.
Dining Establishments
The OSHA also regulates restaurant owners to comply with safety standards. Some common injuries that are obtained in restaurants are slips and falls, cuts, struck-bys, burns, and overexertion. Restaurant injuries are recorded in time-loss claims, which means time lost due to injuries or even death. Falls account for 18% of time-loss claims, 24% from struck-by accidents (with 60% of it being knife injuries), 16% from burns and scalds, and 14% from overexertion.
The OSHA encourages employers to implement guidelines and safety precautions in their establishments in order to prevent these accidents. Training employees in doing potentially dangerous tasks such as lifting heavy objects is recommended.
Offices
Falling is also the most common cause of office injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They have also stated that office workers are more likely to fall 2 to 2.5 more times than non-office workers. Wet floors, tripping over objects on the floor, reaching for something, using chairs for elevation, and poor lighting conditions are listed as common causes of fall injuries.
Back injuries, neck strains, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) may also happen due to some workstations being ergonomically incorrect. Every year, work compensations amounting to more than $15 billion were spent for MSD in employees alone.
Physical stress can be avoided with fitting equipment, tools, and workstation. The OSHA says that implementing ergonomic processes reduces the risks of developing MSD and other related illnesses.
Being responsible, cautious, and aware of every risk in the workplace will help us stay safe while working. By also knowing the policies regarding safety, we could identify if certain regulations are being neglected. Carelessness, whether as an employer or an employee, is something we cannot afford no matter which industry we are working for.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
