An industrial injury is bodily damage resulting from working. According to the national Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2009, a preliminary total of 4,340 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States down from a final count of 5,214 fatal work injuries in 2008. The 2009 total represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992.
The term ‘industrial injury’ refers to any kind of injury that occurs in the workplace. This could be anything from a sprained ankle caused by a slippery surface, to hearing damage as a result of unprotected exposure to loud noise.
Thousands of workers suffer industrial injuries at work every year, and many of them may be entitled to make industrial injuries claims for compensation. Here are just some of the most common causes of workplace accidents
Slips and Falls
Workplace environmental conditions and spills contribute to a large occurrences of falls and slips that can cause serious injuries. These accidents cause damage the muscular or skeletal systems and result in lost work. Such injuries often can be prevented by the placement of spill precaution signs, the use of non-slip footwear, or non-slip floor runners, awareness and education.
Falling Objects
Items that are posited poorly often fall while being carried or manipulated can cause workplace injuries. These injuries can be particularly serious because they typically affect the head and neck. Prevention measures include the use of safety headgear, proper restraint of carried or manipulated objects, proper training on equipment use and the placement of warning signs.
Burns
Chemicals in a workplace can present the danger of burns coming in contact with the body during accidental spills or sprays. This type of threat demands specific responses, particularly containment of the chemical to prevent additional contact injuries and prevention of consequences such as contamination of the local water supply. Injury prevention begins with identification of the chemical and a list of dangers related to its use. Personal protective equipment such as eyewear must be made available to employees.
Lifting
Employees who work in an industrial environment may suffer injuries due to the improper manipulation of
goods and equipment. A poor lifting technique can result in injuries to the back, spine, limbs and extremities. In some cases, lifting injuries manifest over time rather than immediately. This type of injury can be avoided with hands-on and classroom training and proper supervision of workplace activity.
In addition to the common types of injuries noted above OSHA recommends a Job Hazard Analysis for specific industries. A Job Hazard Analysis as a technique that focuses on job tasks to identify hazards before they occur. The analysis examines the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the work environment. The specific areas addressed in a Job Hazard Analysis include and evaluation of:
• chemicals (toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive), their storage, containment and transport;
• electrical (shock/short circuit, fire, static, loss of power)examines wiring plans and usage;
• ergonomics (strain, human error)evaluates the tasks in the execution of work;
• excavation (collapse) consideration of falling and/or collapsing sites;
• explosion (chemical reaction, over pressurization) potential burns, contamination are considered;
• fall (condition results in slip/trip from heights or on walking surfaces — poor housekeeping, uneven surfaces, exposed ledges);
• fire/heat (burns to skin and other organs);
• mechanical (vibration, chaffing, material fatigue, failure, body part exposed to damage);
• noise (hearing damage, inability to communicate, stress);
• radiation (X-rays, microwave ovens, microwave towers for radio or TV stations or wireless technology);
• struck by (falling objects and projectiles injure body);
• struck against (injury to body part when action causes contact with a surface, as when screwdriver slips);
• temperature extreme (heat stress, exhaustion, hypothermia);
• visibility (lack of lighting or obstructed vision that results in error or injury);
• weather phenomena (snow, rain, wind, ice that increases or creates a hazard).
