Injuries at work are worryingly commonplace. Thousands of people every year are injured or even killed during the course of their work. These injuries range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries such as fractures, spinal injury and death.
The pain and suffering of an injury are often accompanied by other negative consequences – missed work, lost wages, worry and stress. Therefore, it is important that every employer takes steps to prevent injuries to their workers. This is a legal obligation. If an employer fails to protect workers, they may be fined or imprisoned.
There are several different ways in which the risk of injury at work can be reduced. Safety equipment may be required for more hazardous jobs such as construction. This can include helmets and protective goggles. The necessary equipment also needs to be provided for jobs such as roofing where a guard on the edge of scaffolding can help to prevent falls. Without this equipment, workers may face very serious injury.
Employees also have a responsibility to take care during the course of their work and to direct their full attention to tasks which may involve a risk, including manual handling. When manual handling is part of a worker’s job, they should have received training about how to go about this safely and how to recognise when they need assistance or when they will be unable to complete the task and will have to turn to mechanical means of moving the item.
HSE statistics show that between 2001/2 and 2008/9, slips and trips were the most common cause of major injuries at work. The risk of slips and trips can be avoided by ensuring that any spills or leaks are promptly wiped up and that appropriate cleaning products are used that won’t cause slipperiness. Dim lighting reduces visibility and can increase risk of injury, particularly if there are obstructions or steps. It is also important that worn, loose or ripped flooring is replaced and that obstructions are avoided, particularly in walkways.
Many people do not think that office workers are at risk of injury at work but just like any other workplace, if precautions are not taken, workers can be injured. Cables and wiring can provide a trip hazard. Electrical equipment can provide risk of electric shock. In addition, workers may not expect manual handling to form part of their role and so may not have received training but may face this during the course of their work and will be unprepared to be able to carry it out safely.
In other occupations, such as construction, there is a higher risk of falls from a height, which are the leading cause of fatalities in the workplace. If employers try to save money by cutting safety precautions, the results can be devastating. Construction workers need to have undergone safety training, have the correct protective equipment and the relevant guards in place to prevent falls.
Taking preventative steps can help reduce the risk of injury. Employers who take precautionary steps will see far fewer injuries among their workers.
