Injury in the Workplace

There are occupational hazards in almost every conceivable workplace nowadays; even though the risks are very often negligible, special care must be taken to ensure that accidents stemming from these happen as infrequently as possible.

The majority of workplace accidents lead to musculoskeletal afflictions including common sprains and strains (often in the back area), fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. These can often be prevented by taking a little extra care in whatever activities you undertake, so both employers and employees should adhere to health and safety recommendations outlined for your occupation.

Other injuries are known to less frequently involve bruises and contusions (often from striking objects or being struck), cuts and lacerations, heat burns and chemical burns. Working with hot objects and dangerous chemicals can be a risky occupation even when the necessary precautions are taken, however the rate of occurrence of these injuries is significantly lower than any of the other mentioned injuries, probably due to occupations involving these being less commonplace.

The risk of all these types of injuries and their incident accidents occurring can be significantly reduced by following any practices recommended by the Health and Safety Executive; don’t forget that we all have the right to work in an environment with as little risk as reasonably possible. If you have any concerns about the practices in your workplace, don’t hesitate to speak to your manager or employer about the nature of your concern.

+Richard Meggitt