Year after year, the same workplace injuries drive employees to urgent care clinics or even emergency rooms. Family doctors also treat thousands of longer-term injuries that happen in the workplace. The worst part is, most of them can be avoided.
Here are some of the most common workplace injuries in the United States today, and how employees in your organization can avoid them.
Overexertion
Lifting, pushing, pulling, holding or carrying objects that are too heavy account for 23% of the total national cost of all workplace injuries. These injuries are not limited to those in construction and manufacturing; overexertion can happen even in the office, from lifting boxes of copy paper to moving a desk.
How to avoid them:
- Train employees on the proper way to perform the physical tasks required for their jobs
- Ensure they have all the proper equipment needed for the job, and that it’s in good repair
- Stress using tools wherever possible, rather than their own bodies
- Ensure they take breaks and rest when doing physical jobs to prevent overexertion
Falls
Slips, trips and falls on the same level are the second-most common cause of workplace injuries. They can result in sprains, strains, lacerations, even broken bones and worse. Falls from heights, such as down stairs, from ladders or scaffolds, equipment, roofs and lofts are also common. These can cause serious injuries, even death.
How to avoid them:
- Ensure that hallways, walkways and high traffic areas are clear. Put things away safely. Clean up spills and dry wet floors immediately
- Train employees on clean-up practices
- Ensure carpeting is in good repair: rid your workplace of tears, holes are tripping hazards
- Use non-slip mats and rugs
- Repair or mark uneven walking surfaces and other hazards
- For work that must be done at a height, ensure employees have the proper fall protection equipment, and that it’s in good repair
High shelves and cabinets in the office can pose a risk of objects falling onto employees. Ensure all equipment or supplies installed at a height — even if they’re only a foot off the ground — are secure. Make checking that supplies remain secure part of your routine.
Repetitive stress injuries
Performing the same motion over and over for extended periods can injure tendons, ligaments and muscles. Checkout cashiers who repetitively twist and pull items for hours at a time are susceptible. Even typing on a keyboard for extended periods, sitting, or standing for the whole day can cause back pain, vision problems, carpal tunnel syndrome and other soft-tissue injuries that can last for years.
How to avoid them:
- Ensure all employees have the proper ergonomic equipment and training in how to use it: wrist rests, body supports, chairs and other furniture
- Ensure employees take regular breaks that allow them to move and change posture
- Rotate employees through different jobs so they don’t have to repeat the same motions all day every day
Simple tip: Provide employees whose jobs require working on a computer with a desk that can be used in both sitting and standing positions. This way, they can switch it up. Encourage them to take a short breaks to walk and change position, even for a few minutes.