7 causes of workplace accidents

Workplace accidents may result in injuries, disabilities, damages like salary loss and medical costs, and death. If your employee is involved in an accident that could have been avoided while working, they may have grounds for a claim. As a result, you may have to compensate them or their loved ones.

To protect your employees and avoid costly legal issues, you need to provide a safe work environment.

Here are seven causes of workplace accidents to help you make informed decisions earlier:

Fatigue

An employee who works for hours without taking breaks has a high chance of being exhausted, increasing their probability of being involved in an accident, as they can make safety-critical errors or fall asleep when performing a task.  

Fatigue-related accidents may be common during evening and night shifts. It is also frequent in employees who work for as long as 12 hours. You should have enough employees and encourage frequent breaks to prevent overexertion, especially for employees who perform repetitive motions.

Unqualified employees operating machines

If your business deals with complicated systems/machines, only trained personnel should operate them. Have strict laws that prohibit untrained personnel from using such machines.

Not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)

If your employees are exposed to any hazard, they should wear PPE to avoid contact, inhalation, or absorption. PPE prevents burns, chemical splashes, cuts, electrical shocks, and falls.

You need to provide your employees with appropriate and standard PPE according to your business operations. Additionally, they should wear every piece correctly. Employees should also not adjust or alter their PPE, as this makes them less safe.

Spills

Slips, trips, and falls due to spills lead to a significant number of workplace accident claims. Fortunately, spill prevention measures can save you from such cases. First, your supervisor or employees should inspect containers often. They should look for holes, drips, pooling, corrosion, and loose connections.

Further, fluids like chemicals should be stored in fastened, labeled containers and put on a stand – not on the floor or above eye-level shelves. Spill kits also come in handy as they effectively absorb chemical spills.

It’s also helpful to have designated employees mop spills regularly. They should put warning signage on a particular area until it dries.

Clutter

Disorganized spaces increase the likelihood of accidents. If someone trips on objects, they can fall and sustain injuries. Clutter on the floor can also hide sharp objects, such as nails. Thus, you need to maintain top-notch workplace housekeeping.

Poor lighting

Inadequate lighting can lead to injuries in the workplace. Ensure every area of your company is adequately lit, including staircases and parking lots. Accidents in dark stairways are among the most reported cases.

Conversely, too much light can lead to eye problems, which can be considered a workplace injury. Consider working with professionals to install lighting with the appropriate illumination and contrast in each location of the company.

Taking the easy way out

Shortcuts in the workplace seem to save time, but they can result in accidents. For example, an employee may fail to observe the necessary safety standards before using machinery to start working sooner. Also, one can rush through tasks, for example, lifting objects quickly, to complete them before lunchtime.

Your employees must understand the importance of every procedure they need to follow when working. Inform them that skipping one or speeding can lead to injuries. Besides, consider taking pressure off your employees. Even though it’s crucial to reach a certain goal, they should not do so while compromising on safety. Plan tasks in chunks, and ensure the necessary equipment and personnel are in position.   

Fatigue, incompetent equipment operation, disregarding PPE, spills, clutter, poor lighting, and shortcuts are common roots of workplace accidents. Identifying them can help you implement solutions that promote employees’ safety in your company.  

This article is for general information purposes. It helps you know you have options. Hence, you should get legal help. The information provided is not legal advice.