Let’s say you are a supervisor in a food manufacturing facility. The hum of machinery fills the air, and you’re walking through the factory and seeing workers do their tasks meticulously. Everything is going well ⸺ but suddenly, you hear a loud metallic bang, several screams pierce the air, and everything comes to a halt. You rush to the spot and find two of your workers on the floor writhing in pain, having fallen from an aerial lift that malfunctioned. They are immediately taken to the hospital.
This looks scary even to imagine, but unfortunately, something close to this happens 37.3 million times every year, as per the reports of WHO. This may sound like a lot of bad news, but there is also some good news: organizations can reduce employee injuries by taking proactive steps to reduce safety incidents. In this blog, we’ll talk just about that.
In this blog, you will learn:
- Definition, types, causes of occupational injuries, and their impact on the productivity of the workers
- Ways in which you can prevent occupational injuries
- About the available technology in the form of software or apps that can smoothen the process of hazard identification and resolution
What is an Occupational Injury?
Occupational injury is any type of harm that happens to an employee while they are on the job. They can range from minor scrapes and bruises to more serious safety incidents or accidents, such as broken bones or even death. An occupational injury differs from an occupational disease, an illness acquired from prolonged exposure to work-related risk factors.
What are the Types of Occupational Injuries?
There are a variety of occupational injuries that can happen in the workplace. Some of the most common types include:
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries happen when repetitive motions, awkward postures, and heavy lifting occur. They can affect muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments, including conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and back pain.
Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries
Slip, trip, and fall Injuries happen when someone slips, trips, or falls while on the job. They can happen because of wet or slippery surfaces, uneven floors, or poor lighting.
Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations happen when someone comes into contact with sharp or rough surfaces or uses tools or equipment with sharp edges.
Bruises and Contusions
Bruises and contusions happen when there’s blunt force trauma and can happen from falling, being hit by an object, or being hit by a vehicle.
Fractures and Dislocations
Fractures and dislocations happen when a bone is broken, or a joint is forced out of its normal position. They can occur from falls, lifting heavy objects, or being hit by an object.
Burns
Burns happen when there’s exposure to heat, chemicals, or electricity. They can range from minor first-degree burns to severe third-degree burns.
Inhalation Injuries
These injuries happen when someone inhales harmful substances, such as gases, fumes, or dust. They can cause respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
Eye Injuries
These injuries happen when exposed to chemicals, dust, or flying debris, ranging from minor irritations to severe blindness.
What are the Causes of Occupational Injuries?
There are many possible causes of occupational injuries, but some common ones include the following:
Unsafe Working Conditions or Equipment
When the physical environment or the tools and machinery used in a job pose a risk of occupational hazards, which eventually leads to injury to workers, some examples might include poorly maintained equipment, lack of proper ventilation, exposure to hazardous chemicals or materials, and inadequate lighting or fire safety measures.
Fatigue or Overwork
Work hours are excessive, and workers are not given enough time to rest and recover. Consequently, accidents and injuries may more likely occur because of exhaustion and mental fatigue.
Trips & Falls
People can sustain these injuries when they lose their balance and fall because of obstacles or uneven surfaces. It can be caused by poor floor maintenance, a lack of warning signs, or cluttered working areas.
Poor Ergonomics
The design of a workplace or equipment does not consider the comfort and safety of workers. As a result, strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, backaches, and neckaches can occur.
Repetitive Motions or Prolonged Static Postures
This refers to situations where workers are required to perform the same motions over and over again or are required to maintain the same posture for prolonged periods. This can lead to strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, and neck pain.
Lack of Proper Training or Supervision
This refers to situations where workers are not provided with the necessary training or supervision to perform their jobs safely. This can lead to accidents and injuries caused by a lack of knowledge or experience.
Workplace Violence
Workplace violence refers to any act of violence or threat of violence. Bullying, harassment, and physical assault can all fall under this category.
Transportation Incidents
Transport accidents are incidents that occur while people or goods are being transported. Vehicle accidents, loading or unloading accidents, and even travel accidents can all be included in this category.
Safety Violations
Safety violations can be a significant cause of occupational injuries. These violations occur when employers or employees fail to adhere to occupational safety and health regulations or recommended exposure limits and standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Examples of safety violations include the inability to provide appropriate personal protective equipment, not properly to train employees on how to use equipment, or to fail to conduct regular safety inspections. When these violations occur, it can increase the risk of safety incidents in the workplace, which can lead to severe or even fatal injuries.
What are the Most Dangerous Sectors?
There are many sectors where the risk of occupational injuries is high, but some of the most dangerous sectors include the following:
Construction
Construction workers face a variety of hazards that can lead to injuries, such as falls, cuts, burns, and musculoskeletal injuries. These hazards include using heavy machinery, exposure to dangerous materials, and working at elevated heights.
Manufacturing
The use of heavy machinery, exposure to hazardous materials, and repetitive motions all contribute to the high injury risk in this sector.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
This sector is considered one of the most dangerous due to the high risk of accidents involving heavy machinery, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and working with animals. Workers in this sector also often work in remote locations, making it difficult for them to receive prompt medical attention in the event of an injury.
Transportation and Warehousing
This sector includes truck drivers, delivery drivers, and warehouse workers. They are at risk of injuries from vehicular accidents, slips, trips, and falls, and also from the physical demands of loading and unloading cargo.
Healthcare
Healthcare workers are at risk of a wide range of injuries, including needle stick injuries, exposure to infectious diseases, and musculoskeletal injuries from lifting patients.
Emergency Services
Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics are at risk of injuries due to the nature of their work. These injuries include burns, injuries from vehicular accidents, and exposure to hazardous materials.
Mining
Miners risk various injuries, including cave-ins, explosions, and falls. They also face exposure to hazardous materials and prolonged exposure to noise and vibration. Companies can use mining EHS software to make safe working conditions for everyone.
How to Prevent Occupational Injuries at Your Workplace?
Conduct Regular Safety Inspections or Audits
Regular inspections of the workplace can help identify hazards and potential risks. Organizations can survey occupational injuries and illnesses through safety audit software, EHS audit software, accident analysis, and prevention to audit their facilities for near-misses and incidents.
Based on the results of these data-driven safety audits, organizations can take steps to address them before they result in injuries. Keep a record of safety violations and alert employees of possible breaches.
Report Unsafe Work Practices
Report Unsafe Work Practices refers to the process of identifying and reporting any unsafe behaviors that have the potential to cause harm to workers in the workplace. Employees can report any unsafe work practices they observe in their workplace. They can do this by speaking with their supervisor or a safety representative, filling out a safety incident report on their mobiles, or using an anonymous reporting system.
Examples of unsafe work practices include:
- Failure to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety glasses, or steel-toed boots
- Using equipment or tools that are in poor condition or not adequately maintained
- Not correctly securing or storing materials or equipment
- Not following established safety procedures or protocols.
- Using a ladder or scaffolding that is not in good condition
This is an essential aspect of workplace safety, as it allows employers and safety professionals to address potential hazards before they lead to accidents or injuries.
Notify Supervisors about Safety Hazards
When reporting a safety hazard, employees can provide as much detail as possible about the danger, including its location, potential consequences, and any relevant observations or experiences. You can use also send automated reports for the same using various software.
For example, suppose an employee notices that a stairway is in poor condition. In that case, they might report this to their supervisor by filling out digital forms, “I noticed that the steps on the stairway in the east wing are loose and appear to be in danger of breaking. This could cause someone to trip and fall, resulting in injury.
Supervisors can ensure that any hazards reported to them are promptly evaluated, and that appropriate measures are taken to control or eliminate the threat. This may involve repairing equipment or facilities, implementing new safety procedures, or providing additional training or PPE to employees.
Review Past Accident Reports or Records for Incident Management
This process involves reviewing and analyzing data from past accidents and incidents to identify common causes and contributing factors and determine areas of the workplace where safety improvements are needed.
For example, suppose an organization has a history of slips, trips, and falls. In that case, the safety team can review past accident reports and records to identify common factors such as wet floors, poor lighting, or lack of proper signage. By understanding the underlying causes of these incidents, the organization can take steps to prevent and manage incidents from occurring in the future.
Provide Proper Training
Employers must provide their employees with the necessary training to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. Training can take many forms, including classroom instruction, hands-on training, and online courses.
Proper training can also include providing employees with training on how to recognize and report potential safety hazards in the workplace. This training can involve identifying threats such as slips, trips, falls, and risks associated with using machinery and equipment.
Implement Safety Protocols and Procedures
These protocols and procedures are designed to identify and control hazards, ensure that workers are trained and equipped to perform their jobs safely and provide a framework for incident response and management.
An example of a safety protocol in the workplace is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots. Companies can also use hazard risk analysis software, safety checklists to make sure that companies implement established safety protocols and procedures. These processes protect workers from head injuries, eye injuries, and foot injuries, respectively. Employers are responsible for providing PPE and training workers on adequately using and maintaining it.
Promoting a Positive Safety Culture
Promoting a positive safety culture within the organization can help to reduce the risk of injuries. This can include emphasizing the importance of safety in all aspects of the organization, encouraging employees to take an active role in identifying and addressing hazards, and recognizing and rewarding employees who demonstrate safe behaviors.
Conclusion
Just like a car needs regular maintenance and inspections to ensure it is running smoothly and safely, the workplace also needs regular safety inspections and the implementation of safe practices to prevent occupational injuries. Similarly, a driver follows the road rules to drive safely, and workers must also be trained on proper procedures and protocols to work safely. In this blog, I have discussed the definition of occupational injuries, types, causes, most dangerous sectors where occupational injuries are high, and steps organizations can take for proactive injury prevention.
