According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, compliance with safety standards can prevent almost all workplace accidents. Unfortunately, many employers in Oklahoma and elsewhere do not realize that every workplace injury can adversely affect morale, productivity and insurance premiums while also risking OSHA fines. Safety authorities say four hazards cause the most prevalent work-related injuries.
Slips, trips and falls make up a significant percentage of debilitating workplace injuries. Proper housekeeping can eliminate wet and slippery surfaces and randomly place objects that pose trip hazards. Musculoskeletal injuries are also far too common, and learning safe lifting techniques could reduce the risk of strains and sprains. Repetitive strain injuries fall in this category, and taking frequent breaks can prevent them.
Work at different levels put those who work below others at elevated platforms at risk of being struck by dropped tools or other objects. Wearing hard hats and tethering tools with lanyards can reduce those hazards. The fourth of these common workplace injuries involves vehicles. These include driving big rigs, passenger vehicles and even forklifts. Drivers or operators must never drive vehicles without the necessary training and certification.
Oklahoma workers in all industries are likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Any victim of a workplace injury should report it to the employer as soon as possible and then proceed with filing a benefits claim. This could be a complicated process, and many workers choose to utilize the skills of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to navigate the claims process for them. Typical compensation includes medical expenses and lost wages, with additional benefits for injuries that caused permanent disabilities.