The workplace is filled with hazards that may not be visible to the naked eye but could cause a great deal of long-term difficulties if you fell victim to the dangers. Even if a risk assessment has been carried out within your workplace, you still need to be on your guard about what could happen and how you can avoid the risks.
Some of the most common incidents can happen to any employee at any time of day, therefore, it is wise to be aware of these hazards so that you can reduce your risk of injury at work.
Here are the top reported workplace accidents that you should be keeping an eye out for.
1. Slips, trips and falls
Slipping, tripping and falling are some of the most commonplace incidents within a variety of industries, as they can be caused by several factors. These types of accidents makeup 1/3rd of reported compensation claims and cause an array of injuries such as broken bones, head and back injuries and pulled muscles.
There is a slight difference between what causes a slip and what causes a trip:
- Slips: Slips usually occur when a person loses their balance on a wet, slippery or oily surface.
- Trips: Trips are caused by obstructions. For example, loose caballing, obstructed views, poor lighting, and wrinkled carpets.
Workplaces should ensure that accidents of this nature are reduced by working out how accidents may occur and what needs to be done to resolve issues. Just a couple of examples for employers to keep in mind are for rooms to be well-lit, carpets are well secured to the floor and cables are tied neatly together and appropriately covered.
2. Machinery accidents
Machinery should have the appropriate guards fitted, or there could be hazardous consequences for employees who use equipment daily. In some industries where risk assessments have not been carried out efficiently, machinery is not fitted with the proper guards which means employees could face serious damage to their bodies, including the likes of severed fingers and even blindness. These long-term injuries are where compensation claims can rake in thousands of pounds for the victim; providing that they weren’t at fault.
Finding an injury lawyer in these cases should never be overlooked, especially if you are worried about how the injury could affect your day-to-day personal life. As you will most likely require a significant amount of time off work as part of the recovery process, you need to ensure that you are protected financially to cover lost income. This is where the-compensation-experts.co.uk can step in to define your rights and help you claim the cash you deserve on lost income and expenses.
3. Vehicle accidents
Employees who drive vehicles while at work are at high risk of collisions when out on the roads. Unfortunately, some of these accidents can be fatal. In order to reduce the likelihood of accidents, employers should enroll their workforce onto safe-driving courses, which informs them of hazards to be aware of and what to do if an accident occurs.
This article (3 Injuries to Be Aware of at Work) is copyrighted by Awareness Junkie, 2019. You may not copy, reproduce or publish any content therein without written permission. Feel free to share this article on social networks and via email. If you have questions, please contact us here.
