Between 2019 and 2020, over 693,000 workers sustained an injury in the workplace, according to a report by the Labour Force Survey. The statistics certainly are shocking, especially for UK business owners.
If you run your own company, it’s understandable that you may want to learn more about how these accidents occur. From here, you can develop strategies to keep them to a minimum.
Below we are going to take a look at just five of the top causes of injuries in the workplace.
Let’s get started.
Slips and Falls
Without a doubt, slips and falls are one of the most common workplace injuries. Of course, risky work environments tend to be the most hazardous, but even simple office spaces have their issues.
For instance, poor housekeeping and clutter such as loose power cords can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, conducting the necessary checks to keep every workspace as safe as possible is crucial.
If you’ve suffered from an injury and aren’t receiving the compensation you deserve, be sure to reach out to the right professionals, such as this Cardiff based solicitor. They can help with your claim.
Overexertion
Overexertion occurs when an employee becomes fatigued on the job. Most often, this is due to physical demands, such as lifting, pushing, and regularly pulling without taking the necessary breaks.
However, tiredness can also come from mental stress and should be taken just as seriously. Employees that are overworked may become prone to conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Distraction
Similar to overexertion, distraction also comes from completing repetitive and tedious tasks. When performing the same jobs daily, we quickly lose productivity and can become somewhat bored.
This can lead to many injuries, including trips and falls and accidentally misusing equipment. Again, frequent breaks and providing employees with different tasks to promote interest can help here.
Falling and Moving Objects
Another significant hazard in many work environments is falling and moving objects. In fact, these can often have the deadliest injuries, especially in large warehouses and factories.
Vehicle accidents can also be included here, but often the minor things can cause the most damage. For example, a heavy item falling off a shelf or a knife cut from opening a box can have devastating effects.
Untrained Employees
Finally, the last common cause of workplace injuries is insufficient training or untrained employees. Team members that don’t possess the necessary knowledge may accidentally cause harm to themselves or other staff.
Alongside incorrectly operating equipment, they could forget to follow the necessary procedures concerning cleaning up. They may also try and “cut corners” without realizing the consequences of their actions. This is why it’s so crucial to establish a training schedule and conduct ongoing evaluations.
Final Words
As you can see from the above, there are many different potential causes of workplace injuries, which vary depending on the level of risk. Luckily, it’s possible to prevent many of them from occurring, provided you implement the necessary solutions.
