There has been a renewed, nationwide focus on work-related injuries after 29 coal miners died in West Virginia earlier this year and 11 oil rig workers were killed in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in April.
But you do not need to work in a coal mine or on an oil rig to face workplace dangers. There are health and safety risks common in offices, factories and on construction sites across America, including:
- Repetitive motion injuries and injuries due to poor ergonomics
- Slip and falls
- Communicable disease
- Transportation accidents
- Burns, explosions, and electrocution
- Workers being struck by falling objects
- Exposure to toxic chemicals or gases
- Hearing loss
There are a number of tactics employees can use to reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses.
Know the Risks
Make use of employer offers of training programs and continuing education classes. Read your employee manual as well. If you are unsure of how to safely perform a task, ask your supervisor.
If you see a risk of injury or illness, inform your employer of the potential hazard. Follow up to make sure the hazardous situation was addressed.
Employers, too, must train their employees in the proper and safe use of equipment.
Proper Equipment
Both employees and employers have good reasons to observe a workplace to ensure proper lighting, safety gear and adequate ventilation.
Equipment should be used with manufacturer safeguards and procedures in place, including such items as protective eyewear, footwear, gloves, kneepads and aprons.
Sleep Well
Tired employees are more prone to accidents, especially if they work around heavy equipment or do work requiring quick responses and keen concentration.
Studies indicate that approximately 18 percent of workplace injuries involve employees who are fatigued. People working on insufficient sleep can pose a danger to themselves, as well as to co-workers.
Overexertion
Overexertion can cause serious workplace injuries, including back injuries, spinal cord injuries, pulled muscles, and wrist and elbow injuries. These often take place when an employee's tasks involve strenuous lifting, pulling, pushing or carrying of heavy objects.
Learn how to lift properly (bending at your knees rather than from your waist). Also, inform your supervisor if heavy objects pose a risk of injury.
Repetitive Motion
One of the most common injuries in office workplaces are repetitive motion injuries sustained in repeating particular motions over and over again.
- If you sit in a chair all day, be sure to regularly get up and stretch and move around
- Take breaks throughout the day
- Maintain proper posture
- Ask for equipment that helps prevent injuries to wrists and lower backs from repetitive motion
If Injury or Illness Strikes
If you sustain a workplace injury or illness, you might have legal recourse including and possibly beyond workers' compensation. Contact a Texas personal injury lawyer to assess the facts of your situation to determine if you have a case.
