Most people have the expectation that they will remain physically unharmed as they complete their shift at work. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Injuries on job sites are far more common than one would hope. This is a fact that both employers and employees must remain cognizant of. With that said, let’s go over five of the most common job site injuries.
Overexertion Injuries
There is a belief that most workplace accidents are dramatic incidents. This is not always the case. Instead, many workplace injuries simply happen due to an employee overexerting their selves beyond the limits of their body. This can happen to a person injuring their back due to lifting heavy objects too often, or by lifting without proper posture. It can also happen due to repetitive motions with the arms, hands, or fingers, such as the case with carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow.
Falls, Slips, and Trips
Another very common category of workplace injuries is falls, slips, and trips. OSHA standards require employers to immediately remove hazards that could result in a fall from a worksite. If that was not the case for your place of work, and you were injured as a result, certainly consider contacting a job site accident lawyer. You may have a case to make in court.
Equipment and Machinery Related Accidents
Job site injuries also sometimes occur as the result of a malfunction, use, or misuse of equipment and machinery. Equipment and machinery must be well maintained to prevent accidents from happening. Thorough training for employees as well as safety guards such as emergency stops must also be utilized with dangerous equipment and machinery to maintain job site safety.
Transportation Accidents
The use of cars, trucks, motorbikes, and other motor-powered vehicles is also a common source of work-related accidents. Overall, you need to make sure you only hire the most qualified and competent people for transportation-related jobs. Bad drivers must be weeded out.
Explosions and Fires
Other accidents happen due to the existence of flammable and combustible materials on job sites. Fires can start nearly anywhere if there is a flammable material. In other cases, combustible material, such as gas, for instance, can create a serious explosion hazard on a job site. Explosions can maim, injure, or kill.
Overall, the number one priority of every employer should be safety. This requires removing safety hazards quickly, training employees on workplace safety, and much more. If you ignore these workplace threats as an employer, job site accidents will occur. The results can be devastating for both your employees and your company. Take workplace safety seriously.
Author information: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.
