.png)
It is the job of employers to provide their workers with safe work environments where preventable workplace injuries do not happen. However, many employers fail to take the proper precautions to protect their employees from preventable workplace accidents, leading to workers suffering catastrophic injuries and even losing their lives.
Preventing Common On-the-Job Injuries
A few of the most common on-the-job injuries include overexertion, struck by object, fall injuries and bodily strain injuries. When employers make sure their workers do the following, it can help ensure these injuries do not happen on their work site:
Overexertion can include excessive pulling, lifting, pushing, throwing and carrying. These types of injuries can be prevented when employers make sure that workers are trained on the proper techniques to make these movements. In addition, employers should make sure help is available for workers, so that they do not have to overexert themselves while working.
For falls, employers should make sure that the ground on job sites are free of objects workers could trip on. Also, employers should ensure that the ground and floors at their facilities have non-slip surfaces to prevent slip and fall injuries.
Employers should make sure that workers do not strain themselves by making awkward movements while performing their job duties. This can include sitting or standing in an improper position for long periods of time while working and having to reach awkwardly for an object. Employers can help prevent these types of injuries by taking proper ergonomics into account when setting up their work sites.
To help ensure their workers avoid being struck by objects, employers must require them to wear hardhats whenever necessary, never work underneath cranes and similar equipment and always stack work materials properly.