Workplace accidents and injuries can happen for various reasons. They include a lack of training, knowledge, and experience. Workplace hazards are an enormous problem. It costs businesses billions of dollars each year. Put in place safety precautions and take your employees for workshops and training.
Unfortunately, many hazards can occur in your workplace. They can end up causing injuries. If you don’t take time to address these hazards, they can get out of hand. So, how do you fix this? In this guide, we’ll discuss five common workplace hazards to fix in your business.
Clutter or Mess
Clutter isn’t only bad for your blood pressure, but it can put you in an accident. The last thing you want is for your employees to be injured in your workplace.
Your workplace may have clutter, such as debris or misplaced items. Employees may trip over or accidentally knock items over, which can lead to back or hip injuries. They can cost you thousands of dollars in medical costs as you have to compensate your employees. If you don’t do this, your employees may seek legal action from an l&i attorney.
Slips, Trips, and Falling
Slips, trips, and falls are the number one cause of workplace accidents. Most slips and trips are caused by wet floors. Falls are from ladders, scaffolds, or stepladders.
Usually, falls from scaffolds or stepladders occur when a worker is walking up or down a ladder. So, the proper procedure for walking up and down a ladder includes using handrails and toe boards.
Wide-open stairways and walkways can also lead to accidents. Falls from ladders can be dangerous. It’s because they usually happen when a worker is leaning over something on the ladder.
Electrical Risks
Workers are exposed to electrical hazards every day on the job. The most common electrical workplace hazard is electric shock. You can prevent many electrical injuries if you equip your workplace with basic electrical safety devices.
Workers who handle or work on electrical equipment are at high risk. Any worker exposed to electrical hazards on the job requires appropriate training. Usually, risks in electrical appliances in the workplace are often overlooked. But, they can have severe consequences to employees in your business.
If you don’t provide adequate training or proper equipment, you’re exposing your employees to injuries. Electrical hazards are a leading cause of workplace fatalities.
The most common workplace electrical accidents involve workers touching electrical parts or equipment. It includes worn-out insulation and exposed wires.
Fire Risks
The risk of fire is one of the most significant workplace hazards. It’s easy to reduce or eliminate this risk. Doing so should be a priority for every business owner. Fires cost businesses millions of dollars in property damage. Also, they can often result in injury or death to company employees.
If your business hasn’t got any fire exits, there’s a chance that a fire can spread out of control. Smoke alarms are one of the best ways of warning people that there’s a fire to deal with. But, getting every employee to use them isn’t easy.
Also, you can place fire extinguishers near the fire exits. But, you should check them regularly to make sure they’re working. Fire is a concern in any workplace. It’s dangerous in crowded industrial areas where fire hazards are common.
Ergonomic Hazards
Ergonomic hazards are any conditions that can hurt someone’s health. Your workers can get injuries on the job by overworking or working in uncomfortable environments.
Employers have many responsibilities to their employees. One is making sure their employees work safely, comfortably, and effectively.
Unfortunately, many ergonomic problems aren’t obvious. They’re caused by things that are hard to see. The back and neck are a usual trouble spot.
Another common ergonomic problem is repetitive stress injury. Repetitive motion injuries occur when workers do the same kind of work over and over again. It causes tiny tears in the tissues that hold the muscles, tendons, and ligaments together.
Conclusion
In the workplace environment, there are hazards that you must address. You must be aware of these hazards and then take the right steps to reduce them. Many injuries that your employees sustain can be prevented. Provide them with safe working conditions.
