How to Avoid Getting Hurt at Work

Accidents happen.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,569,000 recorded cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2023. The Bureau also recorded 5,283 fatal workplace injuries – a small percentage, but thousands of lives that could’ve been saved through proper workplace safety.

If you’re hurt at work, it’s likely that you can file a workers’ compensation claim to help cover your medical bills and lost wages. But you can enjoy better health, less pain and suffering, and a greater income by avoiding workplace injury with proper job safety and accident prevention.

Have you suffered a work-related injury or illness? Arrange a free no-obligation consultation with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer at Phalen Law to discuss your claim today. Before your consultation, it may help to review Steps for Filing a Workers’ Comp Lawsuit in Kansas and Missouri to understand the process ahead.

7 workplace safety tips for injury prevention

1) Follow workplace safety procedures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces standards to ensure safe working conditions across the country.

All employers must comply with applicable OSHA regulations, as well as the General Duty Clause, to keep their workplace free of serious hazards. 

That means your employer is responsible for implementing work safety guidelines and safe workplace practices that minimize the risk of accident and injury.

However, it’s up to you to follow them correctly.

As such, it’s important that you review your workplace safety guidelines regularly to refresh your memory of correct safety procedures. Learning how to identify and prevent workplace hazards, assess risks, and operate equipment correctly helps keep you from getting hurt at work.

OSHA training is also mandatory for all workers who are exposed to hazards on the job. Your employer is required to pay for this safety training, and you might be unable to keep your current job if you fail to complete it.

If you feel you need to brush up on the basics, you can also undertake additional OSHA training online with free course providers.

2) Wear the right protective gear

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protect against health and safety risks in hazardous workspaces.

Following the COVID pandemic, people have come to associate PPE with medical face masks and disposable gloves to avoid getting sick. But the term PPE actually covers a wide variety of safety equipment across all industries. That includes guarding against blunt force injuries on worksites, slip and fall prevention in kitchens, and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals from farming, lab work, or cleaning. 

Depending on your workplace PPE requirements, you might need to wear:

• Head protection: Helmets, hardhats, bump caps
• Eye protection: Goggles, safety glasses, face shields, welding masks
• Hearing protection: Earmuffs, earplugs, canal caps
• Respiratory protection: Surgical masks, filter masks, respirator masks
• Body protection: High-visibility gear, medical gowns, coveralls, full-body suits
• Hand protection: Coated gloves, cut-resistant gloves, disposable gloves, anti-vibration gloves, chemical-protective gloves, temperature-resistant gloves
• Foot protection: Steel toe cap boots, slip-resistant shoes, chemical-resistant shoes, logging boots, conductive footwear 

Your employer has a duty of care to provide suitable PPE – and failing to do so is a sign of serious employer negligence. If you’re working around hazardous substances without adequate protection, you may also have a valid workers’ compensation claim for chemical exposure.

If you feel you don’t have the PPE you need to do your job safely, talk to your supervisor or your company’s human resources (HR) department.

It could save your life.

3) Maintain a clean and organized workspace

One of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid getting hurt at work is to keep your space clean and tidy.

After all, tripping on a stray bag or slipping in spilled liquid could cause serious harm. And on a construction site or in a factory, a single incorrectly stored toolbox could fall and cause a fatal injury.

How you keep your workspace clean and organized depends on what job you do. But general best practices include:

• Follow a regular workplace cleaning program
• Store tools and materials correctly after use
• Ask your employer for more storage space if needed
• Use cable organizers to keep electrical equipment tidy
• Clean up any spills immediately, and use appropriate signage
• Don’t leave items out on the floor
• Regularly declutter your workspace and dispose of items you don’t need
• Empty trash cans and recycling bins before they overflow
• Kindly ask coworkers to keep their workspaces tidy 

If you’re used to working in a messy environment, getting into the habit of tidying up can be tough. But remember, these safety procedures aren’t just about ticking compliance boxes and keeping your boss happy. They’re real, practical tips for preventing workplace injuries.

By cultivating a safety-first mindset, you can make your workplace more enjoyable and easier to work in while also keeping yourself safe.

4) Be mindful of ergonomics at work

Not all injuries occur in a single instance. Poor posture and repetitive movements can cause injuries to develop over time.

For example, slouching at a desk for hours on end can lead to chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain, especially if you’re looking down at a laptop. And regularly using vibrating tools or uncomfortable office equipment can lead to repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

These types of injuries tend to present most commonly in office workers. But you can prevent them with an ergonomic workstation setup:

• Maintain eye level at the top of your screen, or slightly below
• Position your monitor roughly an arm’s length away from you
• Use a chair with lumbar support, reclined at 100-110 degrees
• Keep your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle or greater
• Keep your wrists flat at the keyboard as you type
• Keep your knees level with your hips, or slightly below
• Rest your feet flat on the ground or flat on a footrest

5) Use proper lifting technique

Lifting objects with poor form is a leading cause of workplace back injuries.

There are no OSHA-specific standards for ergonomic lifting. But some techniques are recommended under OSHA’s General Duty Clause.

Ergonomic lifting takes place over four stages:

• Preparation: Think carefully about the object you’re about to lift. Is it too large, heavy, or awkward to carry safely with a good grip? Or will it block your vision? If so, consider a safe alternative like lifting with a coworker or using a hand truck or dolly.
• Lifting: Stand close to the load with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend at the hips and knees as if squatting rather than from your back. And keep your head up and straight, with your shoulders back to keep your back straight. Never twist your torso or lift a heavy object above shoulder height.
• Carrying: Hold the load as close to your body as possible, level with your belly button. Keep your shoulders in line with your hips as you move, and never twist your trunk while carrying.
• Setting down: Reverse the lifting process while following the same ergonomic principles. Keep the load close to your body with your back straight, then squat bending only at the hips and knees to set the load down.

6) Take breaks and avoid fatigue

Physical or mental exhaustion can greatly increase the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.

When you’re fatigued, you have slower reaction times, a shorter attention span, lower awareness, and poorer judgement. These can cause you to miss safety procedures and potential hazards that you otherwise would have thought of.

It’s not always possible to stop working when you’re tired, especially if you work long shifts in a physically intensive role. But even frequent short breaks of two to five minutes can reduce stress, improve performance, and boost awareness.

If you notice any of these common signs of fatigue, it’s best for you to take a quick break:

• Sleepiness: A drooping head, constant yawning, and heavy eyelids are clear physical signs that you need to slow down
• Irritability: If you’ve got a shorter temper than usual and can’t figure out the cause, it might simply be that you’re overworked
• Reduced awareness, concentration, or memory: Mental impairments like difficulty in focusing, remembering simple things, or solving problems can be improved with rest
• Lack of motivation: Listen to your body when it’s sending your signals to stop what you’re doing and relax a little
• Making mistakes: Signs that you’re failing to meet your own standards despite being a competent worker suggest that you’re fatigued and not performing at your best
• Frequent illness: Exhaustion affects your immune system, so you might need to consider pushing yourself less hard if you’re constantly fighting off colds and other illnesses

7) Speak up about safety concerns

Even an attentive, safety-first employer can’t be aware of every potential hazard. So if you notice unsafe working conditions, it’s your responsibility to report them to your supervisor or HR department immediately. You’re not just keeping yourself safe, but also helping to protect your coworkers.

Some people worry that reporting safety concerns will upset their employer. After all, fixing the situation could cause delays and disruptions, and possibly add to costs.

But maintaining a safe workplace helps your employer reduce the risk of expensive lawsuits and lost working hours due to injury and absence. So in the long run, it’s also in their best interest to work with you on creating a safe workplace.

How to advocate for a safer work environment

You’re not in control of workplace safety rules or how your colleagues follow them. But the way you behave can go a long way in promoting a safe work environment. 

You can:

• Lead by example: Demonstrate awareness of risks and follow safety procedures, such as wearing PPE and cleaning thoroughly
• Attend training: Stay up-to-date on health and safety best practices, and encourage your coworkers to do the same
• Speak openly: Report hazards and safety violations to your supervisor and pay attention to whether or not they’re addressed
• Set boundaries: If your employer expects you or your coworkers to operate without suitable safety protections, inform them of your rights and their duty of care
• Call out coworkers: If your coworkers aren’t following safety procedures, politely remind them to do so

By advocating for a safer work environment, you can promote a safety-first mindset that reduces the chances of injury, illness, and death. 

Hurt at work? Get compensation with Phalen Law

In most cases, injury prevention is a matter of good common sense. But even following best practices and industry regulations doesn’t guarantee your safety. After all, accidents happen.

If you’ve been hurt at work, filing for workers’ compensation can provide financial benefits that pay for your medical treatment and keep you from going bankrupt. And by working with a trusted and experienced workers’ comp attorney, you can remove the stress and improve your chances of receiving a substantial settlement. 

At Phalen Law, we have over 50 years’ experience in winning workers’ compensation cases for injured workers throughout Kansas and Missouri. So call us now toll-free or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form online to arrange your free no-obligation consultation.