How to Avoid Injuries in the Workplace

How to Avoid Injuries in the Workplace

A major concern for both the employer and employee in workplaces where materials are handled or the activities themselves are hazardous is safety. For employers, injuries can entail significant expenses plus the possibility of lawsuits. For employees, major injuries can be debilitating and can prevent them from working in the future, not to mention changing their lives for the worse altogether. It is, therefore, necessary to always practice safety measures when working in these kinds of environments. Here are some steps to take to minimise the risk of the most commonly injured body parts—the eyes, hands, and muscles.

Eyes

Eye safety is critical because many human activities depend highly on being able to see. By far, the most common causes of eye injury are flying or falling objects. Eye protection was not present because the worker did not expect any hazard at that moment. To prevent eye injuries when they’re least expected, it is highly recommended to wear eye protection at all times inside the workplace, even in areas where hazards are not apparent. Even in the presence of protective wear, always try to mitigate hazards by ensuring everything is in proper order and being able to identify where eye injuries can potentially occur and marking them accordingly. Finally, always ensure that any equipment used is in proper working condition. If an eye injury does occur, always be prepared with first aid. If treatment is required, remember that it’s possible to file for eye injury at work compensation, which will at least minimise the treatment costs.

Hands

Hands are just as essential as the eyes to live an enjoyable life. While some hand injuries can heal easier and completely, others can be completely devastating. As with eyes, minimising causes of injury to hands in the workplace is one of the first steps an employer can take to prevent hand injuries. Ensure that employees are adequately trained with equipment, as improper equipment handling is one of the leading causes of finger injury at work. Wear complete and appropriate personal protective gear, especially on the hands. Many employees are, for whatever reason, reluctant to wear gloves at work, even if it is required. Stressing the importance of wearing gloves along with other protective equipment is crucial in the prevention of hand injury. Conduct regular checks on all equipment and the environment and continuously evaluate everything from equipment, work areas, and the employees themselves.

Muscles

Jobs that require heavy lifting have the highest instance of muscle injuries like tears and strains. This is usually due to improper lifting techniques. Many employees assume that lifting is merely holding something and taking it off the ground with the hands, but in reality, different lifts require different muscles and postures. Prevent muscle-related injuries by training employees on the correct ways to lift an object, whether it’s off the ground or from an elevated spot, as well as providing guidelines on how to get sufficient nutrition to help muscles recover faster from continually lifting heavy objects.