Workplace injuries can happen at any time. Every day, millions of Americans leave their homes for work. The thought of getting injured while working rarely crosses their mind. However, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 5,333 fatal work injuries in 2019.
The possibility of getting injured while at work depends on the type of job you do as well as your work environment. For example, people who work in manufacturing are more likely to get injured while at work than bankers. Ensuring that a workplace is a safe place for workers is the responsibility of the employer. However, even with their attempts to make the workplace safer, injuries could still occur.
Still, there are steps that can be taken to avoid such injuries or minimize the chance of them happening. In this article, we look at a few tips that can help anyone avoid workplace injuries. Visit our Georgia Injury Centers if you suffer a work-related injury.
How Can Workers Avoid Workplace Injuries
Below are effective ways to avoid a work-related injury.
Always Be Alert
We live in a culture that glorifies the grind. Workers are cajoled to work long hours often to their detriment. As a result, several workers do not get enough sleep or rest. It’s important that you understand that you are of no use to your employer when you are fatigued. As a matter of fact, you could be putting yourself and your co-workers at risk. So, ensure you get adequate rest.
Ensure That You Are Physically Capable of Doing the Work
Prevention, they say, is better than cure. To avoid workplace injuries, you must ensure that you are physically capable of doing the work. Ensure that you can carry heavy equipment or machines, have the experience to work safely with hazardous chemicals, and can work for long periods.
Wear Protective Equipment
Using protective equipment is essential when looking to prevent injuries in the workplace. Ensure that your employer provides you with protective gear such as goggles, face protection, safety shoes, ear muffs, and any other gear you need. In addition, learn the proper way of wearing these gear.
Especially when you are new, you may not know the proper way to wear them. This could make some people ashamed and they do not ask for help. However, your safety and in some cases your life depends on putting them on. So ask for help when you need to.
Do Not Overwork Yourself
Some employers do not employ enough people for the tasks they need to get done. As a result, employees have to work overtime to compensate for this shortage of workers. If you find yourself in such a situation, you may be tempted to take on more than you can. Do not do that. It places you at risk as you may get tired and lose your concentration while working.
Always Follow Instructions
As much as possible, follow the instructions given regarding how certain equipment should be handled. As you spend more time on the job and get more experience, you may get complacent and not follow instructions. That’s a sure way to get hurt.
Inspect and Maintain All Equipment
Every piece of equipment used at work should be inspected and maintained at regular intervals. This includes company vehicles and any machinery used for work. As soon as vehicles or machinery go bad, you must call the attention of the appropriate departments to fix it.
Have Realistic Deadlines
Accidents can happen when employees try to skip processes to finish a task on time. As an employee, you should consider the time allocated for each task when working on it. However, you might find out that your boss or supervisor always gives you unrealistic deadlines. In that case, communicate to them that you cannot work under such conditions. By doing that, you would be preventing future accidents in the workplace.
Have a Tidy Workplace
Just like in the home, clutter can lead to accidents. Ensure that tools are kept in the right place and in the right way. Have a process in place for cleaning up spills and anything that could be harmful to you or your colleagues.
Get Help From the Georgia Injury Centers!
Even with all your precautions, injuries could still happen in your workplace. However, by implementing some or all of these tips, you would reduce the chances of workplace injuries.
At Georgia Injury Centers, we have specialists who can treat injuries that you sustain in the workplace. In addition, if you feel that your injury was caused by negligence on the part of your employer, we have a referral service that would put you in touch with competent lawyers. Contact us today for a free consultation.
