Tag Archives: workplace injuries

General Safety Issues

WHAT ARE WORKPLACE INJURIES? HOW CAN THEY BE STOPPED? (GUEST POST)

Accidents can happen in the workplace, we all know that. 600,000 of them happened in the year 2010-2011, over a third of which resulted in an employee taking more than three days off work. What’s more, you’ll be surprised how many accidents in the workplace occur as a result of poor practice from the employer.

Whether in a white-collar environment or a busy warehouse, employers that don’t care for their staff with proper health and safety will invariably see them get hurt – harming morale and costing the business in sick pay and diminished productivity.

What are the most common workplace injuries?

Irresponsible health and safety at work can result in illnesses, injuries and maladies of all shapes and sizes. From fractured limbs and bruising from slips, trips and falls to posture-related back and neck injuries as well as the psychological effects of stress and depression, there’s barely a condition that can’t be contracted at work.

However, because blue-collar workers are traditionally moving around more and exerting themselves more physically than their counterparts in offices, it makes sense that more injuries occur in warehouses, factories and industrial areas than in white-collar locations. According to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK, slips, trips and falls account for more than half of all major injuries and nearly a third of serious over 3-day injuries.

When it comes to fatal injuries, falling from height remains the biggest threat for employees with 40 dying in 2011/12 – again something that affects workers on construction sites and warehouses.

Why do employers neglect health and safety?

There’s no denying that businesses have cleaned up their act over the last 20 years and industrial areas are significantly safer than they were a few decades ago. But there are still employers out there that endanger their staff by flouting their health and safety responsibilities.

Why do employers ignore health and safety? There are a number of reasons. Although it’s tempting to think that injuries arise as a result of prudent penny-pinching businesses, it’s not quite as simple as that. Very often, a serious injury will occur not because a company has neglected to invest the necessary time and money, but because of failed communication or through the fault of individuals.

How to protect employees from injury at work

To be successfully implemented, health and safety in the workplace needs to be dealt with from top to bottom – from senior managers deciding the safest course of action through to supervisors ensuring that the directions are being safely and completely carried out. It also requires full training for all employees – and for all workers to feel comfortable enough to regulate themselves. By letting their seniors know if any work that they’re due to carry out carries a risk they’re not only reducing the risk for themselves at work, but for their colleagues too.

Author – Accident at work solicitors at Hugh James specialise in assisting employees and family members to make a claim if workers were injured on the job. From agricultural and manual handling accidents to slipping and tripping at work and workplace violence, the Hugh James team can help injured workers to receive the compensation they’re due if employers were found to flout their responsibilities.

Our thanks to Ben Magee for sending this article regarding the importance of employers living up to their responsibilities.  Every employee should be well trained, and understand the hazards and risks associated with their particular job description. pb

 

Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

AVOIDING UNNECESSARY INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Workplace injuries have been greatly reduced in the past few decades. According to OSHA, since 1972, worker injuries and illnesses have dropped from 11 incidents per 100 workers to fewer than 4 per 100 in 2010. This is a tremendous increase in workplace safety, but there is still room for improvement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics this still equates to nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. In 2012, over 4,300 individuals were killed on the job.

The burden for keeping the workplace safe rests with the employer. They are responsible for meeting or exceeding the guidelines set out by OSHA. Even though a business may not be involved in an inherently dangerous industry, every job comes with its own set of particular hazards. Some common workplace hazards include:

  •          Transportation accidents
  •          Workplace violence
  •          Slipping and falling
  •          Repetitive motion and ergonomic injuries

This is hardly an exhaustive list. What matters is that each business should take into account which hazards are most likely to pose a threat to its employees and take actions to mitigate them. Not all accidents are avoidable, but with planning even many of these risks can be forestalled.

One of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities isn’t even tied directly to the jobsite. It involves the commute getting there. Driving accidents are a major source of injury and death. Fortunately, their causes can be abated. The culprits behind workplace driving accidents are often over work, cell phone usage, and sleep deprivation. A solution for this is to make employee’s work hours regular and predictable. Instituting safe cell phone usage policies will also help reduce accidents and fatalities.

Another cause of workplace injury is violence. We often hear of disgruntled employees with guns shooting their co-workers, but this is a statistically small percentage of workplace related violence. The vast majority of workplace violence, nearly three quarters, is attributed to robbery. Employers should take this into consideration, especially where employees are transporting money for the company.

Factors employees should look into include where employees are handling money, where they are interacting with the public, or when they are working alone or late at night. Making sure the area around the workplace is well lit and monitored by security cameras is a good deterrent.

Slips and falls are another major cause of workplace injury and death, especially in the fields of construction and landscaping. However, slips and falls are also attributed to cluttered or unkempt workplaces. Keeping floors clear of cords, paper, etc. and cleaning up spills immediately will greatly reduce the chance employees will be injured from slips and falls.

The most non-fatal cause of workplace injury is repetitive motion or ergonomic injury. These injuries affect employees across a wide range of industries from office environments to manufacturing. These injuries often cause chronic conditions which don’t easily heal, therefore they result in more lost work time.

Not all workplace injuries can be avoided. However, they can be greatly reduced through employee education and awareness. If you or someone you know has been injured at work and believe the employer is at fault, you may want to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer that can help determine if the accident was preventable.

Emilee Atteberry is in her last year of law school and enjoys writing on a variety of law topics. She is particularly interested in personal injury law and currently writes for http://www.peachweathers.com/.

General Safety Issues

HOW WORKPLACE INJURIES AFFECT BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

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Written by Georgina Clatworthy

 Workers  are not the only ones negatively affected by injuries in the workplace. The owner of a business can also face serious repercussions when one of their employees is injured, especially if it was due to some form of company negligence. It is important for business owners to know the possible repercussions they can face so they can try their best to avoid them.

Financial Problems due to Workplace Injuries

Several financial pitfalls occur when an employee is injured on the job. All of these financial issues will negatively affect the company as a whole and have a detrimental effect on the company’s bottom line. As our New York personal injury lawyer points out, the most obvious issue that arises after a workplace injury relates to worker’s compensation insurance. Just like any other type of insurance, these rates can rise due to repeat accidents. This type of insurance is essential in all types of companies, so having an increase in the recurring payments can be disastrous to a business.

Productivity Issues Arising from Workplace Injuries

Another factor that can be negatively affected by an employee’s injury is overall productivity within the business. Workers who are injured severely will not be able to show up for their prescheduled shifts. This means that the work that is usually performed by that employee will not get done unless another worker is called in to handle the situation. This is often difficult on the injured party’s co-workers due to the fact that their plans were likely constructed around their work schedule, and this schedule can drastically change when a fellow employee is temporarily removed from the picture.

The biggest hit to productivity usually comes when an injury occurs to an employee who has a specialized skill within the company. If no one else is trained to handle their job, it will likely not get done until a new worker is trained for the position. Unfortunately, paying employees for training often causes a net loss since workers do not get as much done during their training period. This makes it pertinent for employers to ensure that they have more than just one worker who can handle particular projects.

Legal Implications of Workplace Injuries

Maybe one of the most disastrous effects of a workplace injury is the legal implications that the company can face. A company can, for instance, be seriously damaged if they do not carry worker’s compensation insurance. This is a completely negligent act that will result in serious consequences that could include high end settlements to compensate the injured employee. Worker’s compensation insurance also doesn’t cover all injuries. Independent contractors, for instance, are often not covered by these policies. This is why it’s so important to take proper precautions to prevent workplace injuries.

Most of the negative consequences associated with an employee’s workplace injury can be avoided if the employer demands adequate safety and health measures on their job sites. The majority of injuries will not result in a company losing enough money to go out of business, but this is a very real possibility if an employer is negligent and doesn’t have proper insurance coverage. A little preparedness can go a long way in avoiding workplace injury repercussions.

This article was written by Georgina Clatworthy, a law writer and legal blog editor. She contributes this article for New York personal injury lawyer, The Perecman Firm.  The firm has helped many clients deal with the after effects of workplace injuries and ensured they received the compensation they deserved.

Note: Companies are required by OSHA to provide OSHA protective equipment to ensure their workers’ safety on the job.  Whether it’s safety glasses, gloves, protective clothing, hardhats, or any other type of protection, the company must provide such, and train their employees to wear it at all times while on the job.  It is their responsibility to take care of their equipment and ask for replacements when it becomes worn or damaged. Pat