There are many ways you can prevent some of the most common injuries at work, like muscle strains and sprains caused by overexertion and bone fractures resulting from slips and falls. But one more leading cause of workplace injuries is workers injured by contact with objects and equipment. This blog will provide tips to prevent object and equipment injuries so you can keep your employees safe.
Object and Equipment Injuries
Some examples of object and equipment injuries include being stuck with a falling, flying, or rolling object, when a body part is caught in an object or equipment, or when a worker is caught in or crushed by collapsing material.
Contact with objects and equipment is the third leading cause of non-fatal injuries at work and the fourth leading cause of workplace fatalities. Service providers, trade transportation, and manufacturing are the most affected industries that experience these kinds of incidents.
Avoiding Common Injuries in the Workplace
Even though object and equipment injuries are common in the workplace, it is possible to minimize these incidents. The following tips will help you and your employees to avoid these injuries and keep you all safe:
Use Proper Personal Protective Equipment
There are requirements for the specific personal protective equipment (PPE) your employees should use on the job site. The equipment varies from job site to job, so your employees must always use the proper items.
Hard hats protect the head from falling and flying objects, collision impact, debris, and other hazards
Protective clothing like red and orange vests and other reflective materials make employees highly visible, especially if they work in high-risk areas where heavy machines are operated or if they work at night
Conduct Inspections
All PPE, tools, and vehicles should be in good working condition before they are made available for any workers. Regular safety inspections help identify and prevent potential hazards. For example, piles of storage materials that can collapse need to be checked and restrained if needed, and machines should be checked so that they can lift the weight of various materials to prevent any from slipping off and hurting someone.
Educate Employees on Safety Practices
Train your employees on all safety procedures and their proper use within the work site. All employees must be properly trained to use PPE, tools, or heavy equipment and be able to identify all the potential hazards in their work area. For example, they should know how to clear the work zone when heavy machinery is moving, or heavy lifting is performed.
Create a Safe Workplace with Extreme Safety
Extreme Safety helps create safer workplaces by providing safety equipment for employers and employees who are exposed to risks and hazards at their job every day. Our safety products provide protection that helps minimize and reduce object and equipment injuries and many others. We are here to ensure that you and your employees are safe and always protected by high-quality personal protective equipment. Contact us at (310) 856-0166 or click here to learn more.
