Workplace injuries are more common than most people think, in part because they can occur due to even the slightest mistake. That said, the better we understand the root causes of workplace injuries, the better we can guard against them.
So, what are the most common causes of workplace injuries, and how can we prevent them from happening?
Root Causes of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries and accidents come in all shapes and sizes. An accident related to electricity can cause fatal execution, but employees can also suffer from minor, temporary issues like overexertion. The types and severity of injuries vary across different industries and different types of workplaces. However, many of the fundamental root causes remain the same.
- Improper training and education. One of the most critical workplace injury root causes to examine is improper training and education. Your employees need to understand how to conduct themselves in the workplace in a way that minimizes the chances of injuring themselves or others. Without that training or education, they may not be aware of the risks of their activities, and they may not have knowledge of the strategies necessary to prevent and mitigate potential injuries. The good news is training and education are relatively cheap; you just have to be willing to provide them. For example, thanks to online programs, it’s relatively easy to educate, train, and certify your employees to use forklifts safely. Forklifts are incredibly heavy, dangerous pieces of machinery that are often underestimated; it’s critical that your employees know how to use them responsibly.
- Lack of supervision. Sometimes, injuries arise as a result of lack of supervision. Good supervisors keep an eye on all aspects of the workplace, ensuring that safety protocols are followed and stepping in whenever they notice something wrong. Even employees with the best intentions sometimes lack the experience or general oversight necessary to identify or mitigate hazards. Supervisors serve a crucial role in closing that gap, and if they’re absent, accidents become more likely.
- Failure to identify and/or control hazards. The first line of defense in employee safety is hazard prevention and control. In other words, the goal is to eliminate or completely avoid hazards that have a chance of causing harm to your employees. As an example, it’s a good idea to avoid working at great heights whenever possible; barriers and safety tethers are useful, but it’s even better to avoid heights to begin with. Organizations that don’t identify or control hazards are at increased risk of dealing with workplace injuries.
- Safety culture failures. Safety culture is a collective mindset that safety is the highest priority. Employees that subscribe to safety culture are less likely to engage in horseplay and more likely to follow safety protocols consistently. If employees don’t take safety seriously or are willing to compromise safety for the sake of getting the job done faster, injuries are more likely to result.
- Inappropriate equipment. Occasionally, workplace injuries happen because of inappropriate equipment or problems with that equipment. It could be a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) that doesn’t fit properly or is designed for a different purpose. It could be a piece of heavy machinery that hasn’t been properly maintained. In any case, it’s imperative for business owners and supervisors to ensure that all equipment is appropriate and working as intended.
- Employee misconduct. Deliberate employee misconduct is another cause of workplace injuries. Sometimes due to malice but more often due to negligence, employees may engage in objectively risky behaviors in the workplace.
Preventing Workplace Injuries
The strategies for preventing workplace injuries are relatively straightforward and inexpensive compared to the costs of dealing with employee injuries.
- Audit your safety strategy. If you haven’t done it recently, audit your safety strategy. What hazard reduction measures do you employ? How do you manage safety culture? How do you issue supervision?
- Revisit workplace hazards. Take a moment to revisit potential workplace hazards. Are there any hazards that have gone unnoticed? Are there any hazards that could be easily eliminated or reduced?
- Implement checks, balances, and failsafes. Checks and balances, as well as failsafes, are important as an extra line of defense. Having multiple people inspect equipment reduces the chance of error. Imposing disciplinary action can encourage safer, more responsible employee behavior.
- Analyze every incident closely. After every workplace injury or accident should be a close, detailed analysis. It’s your responsibility to understand the sequence of events that led to the injury, so you can prevent similar injuries in the future.
Once you better understand the root causes of workplace injuries, you can employ better measures to prevent them and reduce their severity. Doing so will make your employees healthier and happier, while simultaneously improving your organization’s reputation and profitability.
