Top 10 Causes of Work Accidents
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Accidents happen and nothing can stop them from happening. They are part of life, and occur in unexpected moments. And that is the operative word here —‘unexpected’— since if accidents can be expected they can be prevented. Measures can be instituted and actions done to avoid them, or at least minimize the chances of their occurrence. Thus it will most probably help to know what the more common causes of accidents in the workplace are, so they can be prevented.
Tiredness and fatigue. When the body is tired or pushed beyond its reasonable limits, mental and physical exhaustion is the result. The response to outside stimuli is slowed, aptitude is diminished, and the potential for accidents is increased dramatically.
Anxiety and stress. Problems at home, pressure from other sources not related to work, worries and other forms of stress produce virtually the same effects on the person as fatigue. A worried worker or one whose child is ill will not be able to focus on his job as he normally does, so that accidents are more likely to happen.
Inattention and distraction. Extraneous noise, undue attention from workmates such as ribbing or heckling, and unnecessary activities in the workplace can distract a worker from his job, causing accidents. Even piped-in music, when loud and raucous, can excite a person to perform unneeded motions like headbanging that can cause accidents.
Hazardous environment. Slippery floors, exposed electrical wirings, low overhanging beams and articles, and too high stacking of boxes are just a few examples of how the workplace can be made hazardous, even unintentionally. Such workplace environments are clear invitations to accidents.
No/Inadequate PSEs. Personal safety equipment are used to protect the person from the results of accidents. Hard hats, oil-resistant boots, leather gloves and fire resistant jackets and overcoats are normally issued to workers in hazardous work. To shun them is to expose one’s self to severe personal damage from accidents.
Repetitive, routinary motion. When the work gets boring, workers are distracted or simply drift off to dreamland, awake or asleep.
Violence and alcohol. Believe it or not, violence is a frequent cause of workplace accidents. When a worker bears a grudge against a co-worker or even the management, accidents are more likely, either because the worker is distracted from his work, or his simmering anger explodes into violent action. This is compounded if alcohol is included in the picture.
Road accidents. As motorists, workers are exposed to the same road perils as others on the road, perhaps more so because often such workers run, operate or manage more dangerous equipment or machines like semis, tankers and heavy trucks.
Incorrect work. Due to lack of training, understanding, or simple ignorance, many workers perform their job incorrectly. For instance, stacking boxes and cartons too high can make the stack topple later, at a time when someone is beneath it. Leaving tools in inappropriate places, equipment or machines turned on when not in use, or using the wrong ones to do certain job details can likewise cause accidents
Incorrect workplace design. There are workplaces that are clear invitations for accidents to happen. Blind aisles in warehouses, wooden structures containing highly flammable materials, overloaded wooden shelves and such conditions are open invitations to disaster.
This was a guest post from Stacey from Rivo Software a world leader in Risk Assessment Software helping to reduce the amount of workplace accidents.
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