CAUSES OF WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS
Cogbill Construction Weekly Safety Tuesday, September 7th, 2021
Every workplace accident has a direct or indirect cause. Statistically speaking, 80 out of every 100 accidents are caused by the person involved in the accident. Unsafe acts primarily cause the majority of workplace accidents. The following are examples of unsafe acts in the workplace:
- Unauthorized use of equipment
- Failure to secure or tie down materials during transfer
- Not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) or not wearing it properly
- Performing maintenance on equipment that is moving and not properly shutdown
- Using defective tools or equipment
- Removing safety guards
- Working or operating equipment too fast
- Using improper posture while lifting
- Standing in an unsafe place
- Horseplay in the work area
- Failure to issue signals or warnings as required
- Riding on equipment not designed for passengers
- Not abiding by safety signage
- Taking shortcuts to finish a job
It is the responsibility of every employer to provide workers with proper safety training and to regularly keep them up to date on the latest protocols. Employers should also make sure that the condition of their workplace is up to par to help prevent accidents. Adhering to all necessary safety regulations and standards, providing protective equipment, making sure all machines are properly maintained, and making sure workers adhere to safe practices, along with providing them with the proper safety training that will help better ensure the workplace is a safe one.
