Most Americans spend more hours at work than any other place except for our homes. Your employer is responsible for making sure that you are in a safe environment during those working hours. The Massachusetts work injury attorneys at Spada Law Group believe that every employer has a duty to its workers when it comes to maintaining safe conditions and avoiding any situations or hazards that could result in an employee being injured.
Naturally, some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others. For example, you run a much greater risk of sustaining a life-threatening or debilitating injury while working on a construction site or an oil rig than in an office setting but that simply means that workplace safety procedures are even more essential in those types of jobs. The National Safety Council has reported that every 7 seconds a worker is injured on the job. That number works out to be 4,500,000 work injuries per year resulting in 104,000,000 production days lost.
The top 5 occupations with the largest number of injuries resulting in days away from work are:
- Service workers (including police and firefighters)
- Workers in transportation and shipping
- Manufacturing and production workers
- Installation, maintenance, and repairmen
- Construction workers
The responsibility to maintain a safe workplace not only falls on the employer but the worker as well. It is important that we decide to make safe choices every day and put safety at the forefront. Follow this list of common sense tips on how to prevent injuries from happening in the first place:
Avoid Shortcuts
Many accidents happen not because the safety precautions are unknown but because people take short cuts when they are either familiar with their job or are in a hurry to get a particular part of their job done. For example, a worker may climb without a safety harness in order to complete one small task because putting on a safety harness may seem like overkill for that task. In that situation the decision to not play it safe can mean the difference between a minor injury and a life-threatening catastrophe.
Keep a Clean and Sanitary Workplace
The attention to detail required to maintain a clean and orderly workplace will diminish the chance of injury. A cluttered, disorganized work area is more difficult to safely maneuver within and leaves workers more prone to accidents. Something as simple as running computer cables and cords properly can avoid a tripping hazard. Whether you are working with heavy machinery or sitting in front of a computer all day in an office cubicle, keeping the area clean and well-maintained decreases the chance of workplace accidents.
Utilize Proper Equipment
All staff must be equipped for the specific duties of their job. Equipment may vary from hard hats, safety harnesses to gloves and goggles. To properly maintain a safe work zone, under no circumstances should employees perform their duties without the proper equipment.
The most common types of workplace injuries are:
- Sprains, strains or tears
- Soreness or pain
- Cuts, lacerations or punctures
An injury suffered on the job can put you out of work and make medical treatment necessary. If you’ve been injured at work, you might look first to workers’ compensation to pay your medical bills and lost wages. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation does not cover what is referred to as “general damages,” such as pain and suffering and damage to the quality of your life. That is where Spada Law Group can help. If you’ve been injured or a close family member has died in a workplace accident, you should always consult an experienced and reputable attorney before accepting the limited benefits available through workers’ compensation.
With offices in Chelsea and Salem, MA, Spada Law Group provides Boston quality legal representation without the commute into the city with free on-premises or validated parking. We are here to answer any questions you may have. Call Spada Law Group today at 617-889-5000 to discuss your situation. The consultation is free and there is absolutely no obligation to hire us. We are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.
