From sitting behind an office desk to working on-site at a construction zone, workplace injuries can occur in any industry. These unfortunate incidents can range from minor cuts to mild sprains, to severe accidents resulting in long-term disabilities. According to the National Safety Council, an employee is injured on the job every seven seconds and the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada reported 271 workers lost time due to different work-related injuries from 2000 to 2021.
The Positive Mind Wellness experts have created this informational guide to explore the top 10 causes of accidents in the workplace. Whether you are an employee interested in how to stay safe at work or an employer seeking to enhance workplace safety for its staff, this article will provide practical tips and valuable insights for preventing workplace injuries.
Importance of Understanding Common Workplace Injuries
It’s critical for employers and employees to understand the most frequent types of workplace injuries in order to create a safe and secure work environment. By being aware of the most prevalent types of work injuries, we can take proactive measures to prevent them.
For instance, implementing safety protocols, providing proper training, and equipping employees with the necessary tools to avoid accidents can help employees understand and recognize potential hazards.
Top 10 Common Workplace Injuries
Since there are a wide range of jobs happening in the workplace, there are quite a few different injuries that an employee may experience. Here are the top 10 most common workplace injuries in Toronto:
Trips, slips, and falls
Wet or slippery surfaces, cluttered walkways, inadequate lighting, or uneven floors are the leading causes of trips, slips, and falls. These accidents can result in head injuries, fractures, sprains, or back problems. It’s important for employers to maintain a safe work environment to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Regular fall prevention training, installing proper signage, site inspections, removing obstacles, maintaining clean and dry floors, promptly repairing potential hazards, and providing non-slip footwear to employees are all examples of precautions employers can take to prevent these types of injuries in the workplace.
Injuries from repetitive motions
Repeated tasks or movements such as typing, lifting heavy objects, or assembly line work can result in repetitive motion injuries. Common examples of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or bursitis. Despite administrative, processing, and manufacturing tasks being the leading cause in repetitive use injuries, any movements done all day, multiple days a week, without rest, can be harmful.
Proper training, implementing rotation of tasks, setting regular breaks, and ergonomic assessments and workstations can help minimize the risk of such injuries. Using ergonomic equipment and practicing good posture can help reduce strain on your muscles and joints and prevent injury.
Sprains and strains
Lifting heavy objects, improper body mechanics, and overexertion can frequently lead to sprains and strains. These common workplace injuries often affect your tendons, muscles, and ligaments of most notably, your back, neck, shoulders, and limbs. Chiropractic care is a safe and suitable approach for treating various back and neck related pain.
Proper lifting techniques, ergonomic adjustments to workstations, mechanical aids for lifting heavy equipment, stretching exercises, and warm-up routines can help prevent and reduce the risk of sprain and strain type injuries.
Cuts and lacerations
Box cutters, sharp edges on office equipment, and letter openers can give serious cuts and lacerations to employees to the point of needing a workers’ compensation claim. In various industries, sharp objects, tools, or machinery, pose a significant risk if not handled carefully.
Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety goggles, cut-resistant gloves, and guards for machinery, regular equipment maintenance and proper training on safe handling procedures, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace are vital practices for helping reduce the chances of cut and laceration accidents caused by sharp objects or debris.
Electrical shocks or injuries
Faulty electrical equipment, handling live wires, or inadequate grounding can often lead to injuries as minor as electrical socks to more serious workplace injuries like severe burns and electrocution.
Implementing lockout/tagout procedures, providing appropriate PPE, providing proper training on electrical safety protocols, using insulated tools, and ensuring that electrical systems are regularly inspected are essential preventive measures employers can take to protect their team.
Burns
Exposure to heat, electrical sources, or chemicals can often result in burns, causing varying degrees of damage to the skin and underlying tissues.
Training on fire extinguishers and handling hazardous substances, implementing fire safety measures, ensuring proper storage and labelling, and evacuation plans are crucial to help prevent burn-related types of work injuries. Also, being equipped with appropriate protective clothing, including aprons, gloves, and face shields can be lifesaving.
Respiratory issues
Exposure to airborne substances like gases, dust, chemicals, or fumes can often cause respiratory issues such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or occupational lung diseases.
Regular monitoring, confined space training, adherence to safety guidelines, proper ventilation systems, training on the proper use of respiratory equipment, maintaining safe workplace air quality, and access to respiratory protection such as masks or respirators are essential for preventing respiratory problems.
Hearing damage or loss
Industries such as construction, manufacturing, and entertainment are particularly susceptible to prolonged exposure to loud noise levels. This continuous vulnerability to high decibel sounds can permanently damage the inner ear, resulting in hearing impairment or loss of hearing entirely.
Hearing protection devices such as earplugs or earmuffs, engineering controls like sound barriers, and regular noise level assessments can help prevent hearing damage in the workplace. Additionally, employers can significantly reduce the incidence of this injury for their employees by educating them about the risks of noise exposure and promoting hearing protection.
Eye-related injuries
Chemical splashes, exposure to intense light, or flying debris can often cause eye injuries ranging from minor irritations to severe damage or vision loss. Particularly in industries involving welding, grinding, or handling chemicals can lead to eye-related injuries in the workplace.
Regular eye examinations, appropriate eye protection such as safety goggles or face shields, training on proper handling procedures, following essential eye safety tips, immediate medical attention in case of an injury, and maintaining a clean and hazard-free work environment are crucial for preserving vision and preventing long-term consequences.
Accidental injuries
This includes a broad category of unexpected incidents that can occur in the workplace.
Some workplace accident examples are being struck by objects, slips, falls, vehicle-related incidents, or machinery accidents. The severity of these injuries can vary widely and can result in concussions, fractures, or even fatalities.
Employers should prioritize a comprehensive safety program that includes employee training, risk assessments, regular equipment maintenance, and the implementation of safety protocols. Aerial lift, crane operator, forklift operator, and WHMIS online training are a handful of some routine accident prevention training guides that can be of great assistance.
Effective communication channels, regular safety audits, emphasizing a safety culture that encourages reporting and addressing near-misses, and a commitment to continuous improvement can help identify potential hazards and prevent accidental injuries in the workplace before they occur.
Vehicle collisions and crashes
Driving forklifts, trailer operators, and sales representatives visiting clients in cars are prime examples of work-related vehicle collisions and crashes. It’s important to note if the employee is on the job, then collision and crashes in small mobile machinery or vehicles are not covered by commercial vehicle insurance. This means these claims can increase workers’ compensation insurance costs.
Training on company equipment, regular drug testing, and proper background checks on an individual’s driving history can help protect employees from vehicle collisions and crashes. Also, encouraging staff to take breaks when tired on the road can help prevent serious workplace injuries. In the event of a motor vehicle accident, seek out Positive Mind Wellness’ MVA rehabilitation services in Toronto.
Final Thoughts
Workplace injuries can affect anyone, but understanding the most common risks and taking proactive steps can make all the difference. If you or your team need support recovering from a workplace injury or guidance on navigating WSIB claims, our team at Positive Mind Wellness is here to help.
Learn more about our WSIB rehabilitation services and discover how we can assist you on the road to recovery.
