Workplace Wellness: Preventing common workplace injuries

Workplace injuries take a toll on employees – their health, families and livelihood. Workplace injuries are also costly for business and industry. In 2020, 99 million days were lost due to workrelated injuries at a cost of $163.9 billion according to the National Safety Council.

Most injuries are preventable. That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, recommends that all businesses, small and large, implement a safety and health program. OSHA says to start small with a basic program and grow from there.

Where to begin? Let’s look at ways to prevent the most common workplace injuries compiled by the National Safety Council.

1. Exposure to harmful substances or environments: This cause rose to the top in 2020 due to COVID-19 with an average of 13 days lost. The good news is encouraging or providing vaccination against COVID-19 along with annual influenza vaccines can help keep employees healthy and prevent severe illness.

2. Overexertion, bodily reaction: These injuries are typically due to lifting, pushing, turning, holding, carrying or throwing. This category also includes repetitive motion strains due to years spent working on production lines and keyboards. Transportation and warehousing employees are most at risk for these injuries.

A variety of measures can help address and prevent these injuries. Many companies offer proper lifting training. Next, worksite evaluations can help make the work station more ergonomic and efficient. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome may be prevented by keeping the wrist in a straight, neutral position. This can mean lowering keyboards and work stations or raising chairs in some cases. Other tips are using a softer touch, taking breaks and stretches.

Your employees know their work stations best. Look to them for their expertise.

3. Slips, trips and falls: These injuries include slipping and falling on the same level as well as when we catch ourselves without falling. There are also falls to a lower level such as from scaffolding or ladders or jumping to a lower level. Transportation, warehousing and agriculture employees are most at risk for these injuries.

In Minnesota, slips, trips and falls can also occur in icy and snowy parking lots, walkways and slippery indoor entryways. Staying on top of these conditions can help along with signs when floors are wet or slippery.

Encourage everyone to keep an eye out for tripping hazards and fix them – cords, bumps in carpeting, rugs that can trip people up and uneven flooring and thresholds. Remember

By James Dungan MD Mankato Clinic Occupational Medicine

poor lighting can also play a role.

4. Contact with objects and equipment: These injuries can happen in manufacturing, printing and agriculture. They often occur when a worker’s body is pulled into moving equipment and can be very serious. Preventing these incidents may require specific training, proper use of safety guards and close attention to protocols.

Mankato Clinic Occupational Medicine can support your company’s safety and health program by helping to manage risk factors, keeping employees healthy and getting employees back to work quickly and safely after an injury. Visit mankatoclinic.com/specialties/ occupational-medicine to learn more.