Common Workplace Accidents & Injuries

Hazards can create a dangerous environment to work in for your business, especially when you’re unaware of the potential hazards that lie in your workplace. Despite federal and state laws and regulations to keep workers safe, accidents and injuries still happen. The National Safety Council reports that an estimated 4 million non-fatal injuries occur each year in U.S. workplaces, resulting in lost productivity, medical costs, disability, or even death. When your valuable employee takes leave as a result of an injury or accident, the time it takes to train or recruit an interim employee–not to mention the time required to file the claim–can be costly.

Exercising good practices in preventing workplace accidents by reducing potential hazards is a good step forward to promoting the safety conditions of your workplace, as well as reducing the risk of additional worker’s comp claims. In order to do that, identifying and understanding which types of accidents or injuries are most likely to occur is key. Here are some of the most common workplace accidents and injuries today–including accidents in offices, retail stores, farms, construction sites, and laboratories.

Keeping a first aid kit in the office can help reduce the likelihood of spreading bio in the event of an injury.

Offices

The most common accidents in office workplaces are slips or trips (with or without objects) due to uneven floors or other obstructions such as cables crossing walkways

• Falls from steps
• Sprains caused by incorrect posture during long hours in front of a computer
• Burns from electrical equipment or hot liquids
• Cuts and punctures by paper trimmers or other office equipment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, trips and slips account for 34.8% of all office injuries reported in 2018.

Retail Stores

In retail stores, the most common accidents and injuries are due to manual handling, such as:

Marking any wet area of your store eliminates liability and boosts patron safety by helping decrease the risk of slip and fall accidents.

• Lifting heavy items incorrectly
• Slipping or tripping (with objects)
• Repetitive strain injury caused by long hours on feet or working with vibrating tools
• Sprains caused by incorrect posture while stocking shelves
• Falls from steps and ladders when reaching for merchandise at a height

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips/trips/falls accounted for 37.8% of all retail store injuries reported in 2018.

Farms

The most common accidents and injuries on farms are due to handling animals, machinery, and equipment such as tractors; slips or trips (with or without objects) due to uneven terrain or mud; falls from steps, ladders, and wagons; sprains caused by incorrect posture when working with animals or equipment; cuts and punctures from tools and sharp objects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips/trips/falls accounted for 31.7% of all farm-related injuries reported in 2018.

Laboratories

In laboratories, the most common accidents occur due to the following:

• Improper use of hazardous chemicals
• Slips or trips (with or without objects) due to uneven surfaces
• cables crossing walkways
• Falls from steps or ladders when reaching for equipment at a height
• Sprains caused by incorrect posture while working with laboratory instruments
• Burns from heat sources such as Bunsen burners, acid baths, or hot liquids.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips/trips/falls accounted for 28.2% of all laboratory-related injuries reported in 2018.

Construction Sites

On construction sites, the most common accidents are due to slips or trips (with or without objects); falls from heights such as scaffolding and stairs; crush injuries from heavy machinery and tools; cuts and punctures from sharp objects; burns caused by electrical equipment or heat sources. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips, and falls accounted for 33.3% of all construction-related injuries reported in 2018. More than half (63%) of construction-related deaths are associated with the Fatal Four.

What to Do After a Workplace Accident or Injury

Though accidents can happen anywhere, certain workplaces are more prone to them than others. To help you ensure the safety of your employees and customers, we’ve compiled a list of the top five workplaces with the most common accidents and injuries. If you work in one of these industries, it’s important to be extra vigilant about safety precautions.

If an accident has occurred, don’t hesitate to call the National Crime Scene Cleanup Association for 24/7 emergency cleanup services. NCSC has the experience and expertise to clean and disinfect any workplace safely.