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TEN MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES IN THE U.S. (Guest Post)

 

Today’s guest author is Carol Brown, who has sent some very interesting facts and figures regarding work-related illnesses.

Accidents happen anywhere, anytime, even when proper safety and training steps are taken. Every year, thousands of workers file claims after something within the system hiccups and compromises their overall well-being, or quite simply, because the demands of the positions themselves begin wearing down the body with continuous physical stress. Injuries, which the government lumps in with illnesses, run the most rampant in the offices, warehouses, roads, and other workplaces across the United States.

For consistency’s sake, all numbers have been culled from the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s 2010 study of nonfatal occupational illnesses requiring days away from work.

  1. Sprains, Strains, and Tears:

In 2010, 46.9 out of 10,000 workplace-related injuries and illnesses came in the form of what the Bureau of Labor Statistics labels “sprains, strains, and tears.” Forty-three percent of these incidents occurred because of workers overexerting themselves, with 36% impacting the back. Yet such injuries to the shoulders actually required more time away from work than any other body part, with an average of 21 days. Back sprains, strains, and tears have actually declined in the previous years and at a rate faster than any other body part, no less.

  1. Musculoskeletal Disorders:

The BLS lumps all musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses into one statistic, and they make up 34.3 out of 10,000 on-the-job incidents. Most complaints involve the back, but rotator cuff disorders, carpal tunnel, and other nonspecified pains are also extremely common. All of them have experienced an increase over time, especially amongst those working as orderlies, nurses, and attendants.

  1. Overexertion:

Twenty-seven out of 10,000 total workplace injuries and illnesses occurred because of overexertion, marking an increase of 3% from previous years. Social assistance and healthcare positions in the private sector experienced far more strain-related conditions, at a staggering rate of 48 per 10,000 employees. Overexertion in lifting comprised 13.2 of the 27 reported cases, and the aforementioned “sprains, strains, and tears” stood as the most likely result of pushing the body beyond its limitations.

  1. General Soreness and Pain:

Overall body pain, including the back, accounted for 13.3 out of 10,000 reported on-the-job injuries and illnesses, and 11% required recovery at home or a convalescence center. Labor jobs unsurprisingly stood as the riskiest when it comes to suffering the symptoms, particularly among workers in transportation and warehousing. Twenty-eight out of 10,000 of such employees reported severe soreness and pain, with a median of 17 days away from the job to properly recover.

  1. Bruises and Contusions:

The BLS reports that 9.9 out of every 10,000 workplace injuries involved contusions and bruises, and a total median of four days away from work to heal. Numbers also reveal that 2.2 out of 10,000 incidents of multiple injuries also involve bruising as well as sprains. Once again, transportation and warehouse workers experienced the highest rate of suffering the conditions, with 20.2 out of 10,000.

  1. Cuts, Lacerations, and Punctures:

Twenty-nine percent of the 9.1 of 10,000 cut, laceration, and puncture reports involved some sort of incident regarding work-related equipment, with fingernails and fingers the most vulnerable body bits, accounting for 26%. At 1.1 of 10,000 Punctures stand as far less common than cuts and lacerations, which the BLS lumps together. Employees in the refuse and recyclable material collection industry suffered these injuries significantly more than their counterparts elsewhere, with a staggering 185.9 out of 10,000 reporting slices and dices.

  1. Fractures:

Fractures accounted for 8.5 out of 10,000 reported workplace injuries and illnesses, and employees diagnosed with the condition needed a recuperation period of 28 days away from the job. The hunting industry claims 21.1 of the 2010 numbers, making it the most at-risk demographic, followed by mining (17.9) and construction (17.7). As a part of the BLS’ statistics regarding multiple sustained injuries and illnesses, it only afflicts .9 out of 10,000.

  1. Multiple Injuries and Disorders:

Workers who experienced more than one diagnosis concurrently form an entire grouping according to the BLS, who cited 5.7 instances out of every 10,000 in 2010. Hunting again exists as the most vulnerable career path to sustaining multiple traumatic injuries and illnesses, at a rate of 11.3 out of 10,000, and, as seen previously, instances involving strains and bruises are more common than those with fractures and burns. However, law enforcement officials were the most likely (33.3 out of 10,000) to require time away from work in order to recuperate.

  1. Back Pain:

Four out of 10,000 workplace injuries and illnesses specifically involved some form of back pain, whether alone or in conjunction with some other body part. Owing to the nature of their positions, both intercity and transit bus drivers suffer the most, in both categories — 96.1 out of 10,000 for combined pain and 44 out of 10,000 for just the back. In total, though, cases hailing from all professions only needed about eight days outside of work for a recovery to take place.

  1. Heat Burns and Scalds:

Food service employees, at a rate of 8.5 for every 10,000 workers, suffer from scalds and heat burns more than their counterparts in any other industry. Across the board, though, these injuries still sported a rate of 1.6 out of 10,000 reported cases of occupational incidents. On average, burns and scalds required a median of eight days to properly heal enough for patients to safely return to work.

Thanks, Carol, for sending these facts and figures about work-related injuries.  There are many types of personal protective equipment that help prevent injuries and protect our bodies from the hazards related to fit each particular job.  Please check out Texas America Safety Company for more information. pb

 

(http://www.onlinecollege.org/2012/07/03/10-most-common-occupational-illnesses-u-s/).

 

TEN TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN USING THOSE NEW POWER TOOLS!

We’re betting that there are quite a few of “Do It Yourself’ers,” “Weekend Warriors,” or others who are hoping that Santa brings them some power tools this year.  You may be someone who wants to try a new hobby or save money by repairing broken things around the house without calling a professional.  We want to share ten things that you should pay attention to in order to possibly avoid an emergency room visit. 

  1. Know what you are doing, or don’t do it!  Practice makes perfect.  Even if you know what you are doing, taking a class ahead of time could pay big dividends.  Power tools are hazardous when improperly used.  You should be trained in using all tools, not just power tools.  Know the potential hazards as well as the safety precautions to prevent the hazards from happening.

      2.  Plan ahead.  Visualize the project and think of anything that might be dangerous about it.  For example, if you’re going to cut something, practice saw safety.  Experts will tell you to ask questions and fine-tune your level of concentration when using power tools, and choose your projects based on knowledge, time, cost, and risk.  Tools are not your friends.  You must get to know how to use them, put the blades in correctly, clean and care for them and operate them correctly.  Otherwise, they can stick, stab, cut, or kill you.

      3.  Dress for success.  If you wear the proper safety gear for the intended project, you can decrease the risk for injury.  Cover up.  These should be included in your safety gear:

  • Safety glasses – They come in all shapes and sizes, including sun protection, and keep mists, paints, and dust out of your eyes.
  • Earplugs and muffs – These protect you from hearing loss.
  • Respirators – When using toxic or caustic chemicals or cutting fluids, a respirator will reduce the risk of injury or death from airborne hazards.
  • Kneepads – If you are kneeling on hard surfaces, you can’t do without these!
  • Gloves and shoes – Cover your hands and feet to decrease injury due to everything from chemical exposure to sharp objects.
  • Coveralls – Coveralls keep clothing from getting caught in machines and are flame-retardant.  If you spill something on your clothing, you are going to take it into your home and car.  Cotton and denim are good choices if you do not have coveralls. 

       4.  Never wear loose clothing or jewelry that can get caught in the tool.

        5.  Know about electricity.  Use an electrical tester to ensure that your power is off at the circuit for minor repairs.  Unless you are an electrician or an electrical engineer, you shouldn’t try to do electrical wiring.

       6.  Have your “work space” neat and clean.  It’s the same as for those who work in manufacturing:  clutter and debris can cause slips, trips, falls, and falling objects.  Floors should be kept as clean and dry as possible to prevent accidental falls around dangerous hand and power tools.

       7.  Keep family and observers at a safe distance while you are working.

       8.  Tools should be maintained with care – kept sharp and clean in order to perform well.  Follow instructions in the users manual for lubricating and changing accessories.

      9.  If portable electric tools are damaged, they should not be used until repaired.

     10.  Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance. 

We hope these tips will come in handy when you open those tools Santa left.  Use them with care, and you will be surprised at all the things you can do.  Just read the instructions first and exercise caution.  Safety counts!