Seven Avoidable Workplace Health and Safety Hazards

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As an HR professional or manager, you’re well-aware of the cost of accidents in the workplace. Workers’ compensation claims, lost employee hours and replacing injured employees all take their toll both on management and other employees. Identifying the most common contributors to workplace accidents can help you improve the safety and health of your employees, and prevent accidents and injuries before they occur.

Slips, Trips and Falls

OSHA information points to conditions that contribute to slips, trips and falls as one of the most common and avoidable causes of workplace injuries. Some of the hazards that can cause these accidents include wet floors or tripping hazards such as blocked aisles or passages and cords or other obstructions on the floor. Training employees to be vigilant about these hazards and prohibiting avoidable obstructions can help your employees avoid injury due to these common hazards.

Exposure to Unlabeled/Unsealed Chemicals

When we think of “chemicals” in relation to workplace safety, we almost always think of dangerous chemicals like pesticides or acids, but OSHA warns even common cleaning products can present serious hazards, especially when they are unlabeled or unsealed. Unlabeled and unsealed chemicals are accidents waiting to happen, as employees can easily mistake one chemical for another when containers are unlabeled, or be exposed to harmful fumes or exposure injuries when containers are left unsealed.

Back Injuries

Any workplace is vulnerable to back injuries caused by heavy or improper lifting. Training about proper lifting techniques should be required for all employees, not just those who are expected to do heavy lifting.

Exposure to Biological Hazards

From blood borne pathogens in hospital settings to insect stings in landscaping jobs, exposure to biological hazards that can spread disease or cause serious illness is common in almost any industry. Employees should be informed of common biological hazards they may encounter and given the training and tools they need to avoid these hazards.

Repetitive Movement Injuries

The desk jockey who types all day and the nurse aide who bends over to assist in patient care all day are both prone to a similar workplace hazard: repetitive movement injuries. Providing employees with adequate opportunities to switch off from one task to another can help prevent these injuries, and so can outfitting workstations and employees with the right assistive tools.

Workplace Violence

No one likes to think about violence as a common workplace hazard, but it’s one that OSHA identifies as both common and preventable. Workplace violence training is essential, no matter what your industry, so that your employees recognize potentially volatile situations and how to defuse or avoid them.

Untrained Employees

Almost every workplace hazard OSHA identifies can be reduced with one across the board action: training employees to prevent and avoid hazards. If you’re struggling to hire and train great employees, it’s time you let Staffing Partners’ employment experts take some of the load. Call our experienced staffing professionals today to open up an avenue to some of the best temporary and temp-to-hire candidates in your industry.

 

 

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