Common workplace injuries

Sprains are one of the most common workplace injuries. People often trip over wet floors and sprain their ankle. Others are simply trying to lift heavy objects without using proper mechanics and they sprain or strain a muscle. Workplace injuries cause employers to lose a lot of money. First they have to pay for sick leave for the employee, and then they have to pay for workers compensation insurance. If the employee was severely injured, they may have additional costs (legal fees) to pay for.

There are a variety of reasons why workplace injuries occur. Most workplace injuries are caused by carelessness from the employee. Either they didn't read the workplace injuries handout or they just don't care to use machines the same way as other employees. The employee that slips on the wet floor may want to sue their employer, but if there was a sign up saying that the floor was wet, it is the employees fault for not being cautious. However, there are some lawyers out there that will find loopholes and can still sue your employer for money.

Falls and slips are extremely dangerous for elderly individuals. During the winter months, hospitals see a 50-60 percent increase in patients that are being treated for an injury directly related to a fall. Some of these patients actually fall on the ice on their way into the hospital. In order to prevent falls, companies need to use ice melt outside their doors and in the parking lot. They also need to put up signs so people know that things are slippery and to use caution. If you have spilled liquids in your office, they need to be cleaned up promptly and a sign needs to be put up informing people that this area is wet.

Common injuries for office employees are knee injuries, back injuries, and vision problems. Sitting in a chair for 8 or more hours a day can do some serious damage to your health. People that sit behind a desk all day are at an increased risk for developing blood clots. These same employees also have vision problems because they stare at a computer screen all day. Employers can help to reduce these workplace injuries by requiring employees to exercise at the office. Ask your employees to get up and stretch every hour. You may also require them to walk outside for at least 15 minutes each day.

Computer vision glasses and computer vision screens can help to prevent eye fatigue and other problems from occurring. Make sure your employees have a good chair to sit in. the chair should promote good posture to reduce back pain. Ergonomic keyboards and pads can prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from occurring.

It is also not uncommon for office employees to cut open their hand with a letter opener or scissors. Cluttered desks often are hiding dangerous weapons like these and it can easily cause you to get some stitches in your hand. Coffee burns are also common because employees leave them on the corner of their desk and they fall right into their laps if they bump the desk, even typing can cause it to fall off the desk.

Another common injury for several companies is car-related accidents or deaths. Employees can get in accidents in the parking lot of their building because of snow or because of carelessness. If your employees are driving for work-related purposes, always go over some safe driver specifications before they get behind the wheel.

You can prevent workplace injuries by having a committee that is focused on reducing workplace injuries. They will be able to watch machinery and equipment to see if things need to be replaced. They can also watch the behaviors of the staff members to see if they can change the way they work to reduce injuries.