No matter what type of business you own, there is a risk that your employees can get injured. It might be from a sudden unexpected incident, or it could be the result of a repetitive action over many years. Whatever the reason, when an employee is hurt or gets sick because of their job, it is up to the employer to provide them with compensation.
In every state but one, it is required by law for employers to have workers’ compensation coverage. This insurance protects both the employer and the employees from the devastating financial consequences of an injury. If someone is hurt at work, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is. Workers’ compensation will ensure that they get compensation for their missed wages and medical costs. This protects you as the employer since you won’t have to pay out of pocket for those costs. Plus, having a workers’ compensation policy for your employees means they will not have the right to sue you.
That said, you hardly want to have to use your coverage. For one, it means that someone has gotten seriously hurt. Secondly, even if you have workers’ compensation, lost hours means lost production and a big headache for your business. Here are some of the most common workers’ compensation claim injuries and tips for preventing them.
Strains and Sprains
Strains and sprains can happen at very physical jobs, and they can happen at very sedentary jobs. They tend to be the result of repetitive actions. For example, someone who has to push or pull regularly could tire out the muscles and lead to pain and discomfort. Tendonitis isn’t exactly a strain or sprain, but it can happen to workers who spend all day typing on a keyboard and feel the same. Workers can also get injured lifting heavy objects or contorting into unnatural positions.
To prevent these types of injuries, put in policies so that workers rotate jobs, so they aren’t doing the same thing all day. For those at computers, make sure that you have ergonomic padding and furniture to help ease the stress on their joints. Provide training to workers on safe lifting recommendations to prevent injury.
Lacerations
A laceration is a deep cut or scrape. Most lacerations are minor, but workers can suffer serious ones that require extended periods of healing and could inhibit their ability to do their jobs. The worst cut that occurs in some regions of the body could be life-threatening. Lacerations are very common in kitchen workplaces and jobs that require the use of heavy machinery. They can also happen because tools are left out in unsafe positions.
To prevent lacerations, ensure that employees wear the proper protective equipment, such as cut-proof gloves. Your workers should follow all safety guidelines for heavy machinery and never leave machinery unattended. All workspaces should be thoroughly cleaned and tidied after use.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries can happen for any number of reasons. For example, a worker could get sparks or shrapnel in their eyes at a manufacturing plant. In addition, an office worker could develop eye issues from the strain placed on them by looking at a screen all day long. Most jobs require vision to do them properly, and if a worker loses their sight or if it is compromised, they may not be able to work anymore.
All of your employees who operate in hazardous workplaces should wear the proper eye protection. For example, glasses should protect against debris, sparks, and hazardous liquids. In addition, there are glasses or protective screens for office workers that will lessen the glare and make screens more gentle on the eyes.
Broken Bones
A broken bone can cause a worker to miss significant time from work if they cannot perform their duties. For example, a forklift operator who slips and falls on ice outside the building will not be able to operate the machinery with a broken elbow. Or, an office worker that trips on a frayed carpet may not be able to type or sit at a desk.
Focusing on safe lifting techniques can help prevent broken bones, as can ergonomic practices. Ensure that unsafe conditions, such as ice and frayed rugs, are rectified immediately to prevent falls. All workers should have safety training concerning preventing falls and safe operation of the equipment they use and work closely to.
Burns
Burns are a constant hazard, and not just from fire. You can be burned by explosions, hazardous materials, hot equipment, and even the sun. You can even get internal burns from inhaling smoke from chemicals.
Ensure that your employees use the proper protective equipment when handling hazardous materials that could damage their flesh. You should also have a strict fire sprinkler service that includes fire extinguishers or a sprinkler system throughout the building. In addition, all equipment should be turned off when not in use they could pose a fire risk, such as a stove or fryer.
Head Injuries
Head trauma can lead to lifelong damage that can affect not just working life but also a worker’s quality of life. Concussions and contusions can cause permanent brain injury that can even lead to mental health problems down the road. Workers may never be able to return to work safely, or they might need to have their duties changed so that their injury doesn’t inhibit them.
Preventing head injuries is similar to preventing broken bones. They can happen through slips, falls, and traumatic collisions with equipment and shelving. On work sites, falling debris and tools can cause serious injuries. Ensure that your workers wear appropriate safety gear, especially OSHA-approved safety helmets when working in dangerous areas.
Nobody wants to see someone get hurt, so having a safe workplace is just the moral thing to do. Also, a poor safety record will affect the productivity of any business and could cause serious public relations blowback. Workplace injuries account for approximately $250 billion lost to the economy of the United States, so that safety can have a societal impact as well. Do your best to prevent these typical workers’ compensation claim injuries to keep workers safe and on the job.
