Around 340 million workplace accidents occur across the world each year.
While many of these accidents aren’t serious, as many as 6,000 people die every single day as a result of devastating occupational injuries. What’s more troubling, is that many of these workplace injuries are preventable.
But what are some of the most common occupational injuries today? Let’s take a look.
1. Slips, Trips, and Falls
In the US alone, the annual cost of occupational injuries tops $171 billion. A lot of this cost to society is due to lost productivity, medical expenses, and admin charges as the result of the most common workplace accident category of all – slips, trips, and falls.
Depending on the employee’s health and the nature of the accident, the ensuing workplace injuries usually range from minor bruising to broken limbs. Although, if the worker falls from a great height or slips and bangs their head, there’s a risk of severe disability and even death.
2. Crashes and Collisions
Occupational crash or impact types of injuries are also quite frequent in certain working environments. Employees who drive as part of their job role may become involved in a crash due to driving negligence, bad weather, or faulty equipment. Again, such crashes may only lead to minor injuries, but could be fatal if the collision is more severe.
Warehouse workers, port operatives, and other employees who spend time around moving vehicles are also more at risk of crash and collision injuries. And it’s not only cars and trucks that can cause significant injuries. Many people fall from, are struck by, or crushed underneath forklift trucks every year.
3. Cuts, Burns, and Lacerations
All kinds of workplace equipment from paper trimmers to power tools can end up causing painful cuts and burns, serious lacerations, and puncture wounds. Some common causes of such workplace injuries include inadequate hand power tool safety procedures, poor training, and failing to wear the correct protection.
4. Entanglement in Machinery
Some of the most severe cases of occupational injury occur due to entanglement in the cogs, rollers, and other moving parts of heavy machinery.
Often, jewelry, loose hair, fingers, and neckties becoming tangled up in the machinery leads to this type of accident and the resulting tearing and crushing types of injuries. Or, in a worst-case scenario, workers may lose a limb or die as a result. Proper training and clear warning signs are vital to make employees aware of potential entanglement hazards and how to avoid them.
Some of the Most Common Occupational Injuries
As this list shows, there many different ways you can hurt yourself while at work.
Luckily, the majority of workplace accidents cause the types of occupational injuries that resolve themselves after a few days, such as bruises and minor cuts. But, many others are serious enough to cause permanent damage, disability, or even death.
Looking for more informative insights and news updates? Be sure to check out our other blog posts for all the latest tips, tricks, and how-to guides on everything from entertainment and games to business and law!
Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. Travel, health, shopping, lifestyle and business are among the many subjects she writes about. Through quality and well-researched writing, she informs and even entertains readers about things that matter. She is also interested in film critiquing and filmmaking. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.
