Explanation:
Examples of Workplace Accidents in an Industrial Environment
Imagine walking into your plant one Monday morning to find the light bulb over your work area had blown over the weekend. No big deal, you think. You decide to report it at the end of the shift and go about setting up your drilling press for the work day.
After a few hours, you notice that your shoulders are a little sore but chalk it up to the snow you had to shovel over the weekend. You are not even aware of the awkward humped posture you’ve put yourself in to get a little closer to the press in order to best see the drill area that is likely causing you the discomfort.
After a few more hours, you decide you need to stretch out your back and take a brief break to rub your shoulders and now aching lower back. After a few minutes, you feel a bit of relief and head back to your press. However, because of the dark work area, you don’t realize that you haven’t properly secured the metal to the press when getting back to your station, and next thing you know, the metal jumps up slicing your hand and arm, requiring stitches.
Accidents like the one described above are far too common. Often employees do not associate a small issue, such as poor lighting, with injuries. However, had the employee above taken the time to request a bulb change at the start of shift, the pain in his shoulders and back could have been avoided and he would have been able to clearly see the metal was not properly secure had the space been brighter.
Industrial accidents are often avoidable but require awareness of proper safety protocols by both the employee and management.
What Are the Main Causes of Industrial Accidents?
There are a number of factors that can lead to industrial accidents, including everything from improper lifting techniques to mishandling hazardous materials. Below are some common causes of accidents in the workplace.
Environmental Causes of Accidents
Accidents which occur from environmental causes refer to those workplace accidents that happen because of the working environment. The environmental factors can be both natural and man-made such as workplace design. Common environmental causes of accidents include:
Poor lighting –
Low visibility is a common cause of slips, trips, and falls.
Ambient temperature –
If a workplace is too hot, overheating can occur. If the workplace is too cold, frostbite or hypothermia can occur.
Air pollution –
Breathing issues can develop if a workplace has poor ventilation and/or air pollution.
Sound pollution –
The sound in a workplace can cause injury to a worker’s hearing.
