8 Silent Workplace Hazards That Could Lead to Serious Injuries
Workplace injuries are a lot more common than you might think, and they don’t just happen in industrial settings. While you are far more likely to injure yourself in a warehouse or factory than in an office, you can hurt yourself anywhere. If you have been injured at work, you could be eligible for compensation. Compensation is a monetary payment made to the victims of accidents to cover the cost of their medical bills and allow them to recover without loss of wages.
This post explores eight silent workplace hazards that could lead to serious injuries and ultimately a claim for compensation.
Chemical Exposure
Chemical exposure isn’t just something that happens in warehouses or factories–it can also happen in offices, too. We are all exposed to chemicals on a daily basis, whether that’s cleaning chemicals we use in our homes or aerosol deodorants we spray on our bodies. This team of criminal lawyers in Brisbane makes clear that if you are injured due to somebody else’s negligence, you could be eligible for compensation. If you are exposed to chemicals at work, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer today.
Psychological Pressure
Work can be stressful, no matter how much you love your job. The intense pressure employment puts many people under is enough to cause serious psychological issues. Not only can being overworked lead to feelings of anxiety and stress, but it can also cause sleeplessness and even depression. If you have sustained psychological injuries as a result of the pressure your employer is putting you under, you could be eligible for compensation. The only way to find out if you are or not is to contact a personal injury lawyer.
Emergency Preparations
All workplaces have to have emergency plans in place in case of things like fires, storms, or even physical assaults and murders. If your employer never holds emergency drills, there is a chance that they might not have plans in place to protect you in the event an emergency happens. In most places, employers are legally required to have emergency preparations in place, as well as hold drills. If you believe your employer does not have safety plans in place and have personally observed that they do not hold drills, report them to their industry regulator.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can have a negative impact on the health of workers in industrial settings. Exposure to large amounts of dust can cause some very serious issues, as can exposure to mold, smoke, and chemical fumes. If you work around air pollutants, make sure you wear safety equipment. If your employer does not ask you to, you should report them to their regulator. Injuries can and do occur because of exposure to indoor pollutants. Some injuries occur immediately, and others take several decades to become manifest. Reporting your employer is the best way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
Electrical Wiring
Faulty electrical wiring is a very serious issue that can and regularly does claim lives and cause serious injuries. People who are not trained to work with electricity should go nowhere near faulty wires, no matter what their employer says. If your employer tries to make you work with electrical wiring, there is a chance you could injure yourself. In such circumstances, you are well within your rights to refuse to carry out work. If your employer tries to discipline you because of your refusal, you can take them to a workplace tribunal and even sue them for negligence.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Repetitive motion injuries are most common in factories and on assembly lines. One of the most common repetitive motion injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome, which can make living a comfortable life extremely difficult. Employers are supposed to encourage their employees to stretch and take breaks, to alleviate pain and reduce strain. If your employer does not and you have been injured, the best thing you can do is make a claim for compensation, so you can get the money you need to recover and move on. As recommended above, report your employer if they do not follow safety regulations and offer breaks. If you report your employer, do so anonymously. While employers cannot legally terminate the employment of employees who report them, they can still fire them for other reasons.
Intentional Assaults
Workplace tensions often simmer under the surface. Sometimes they lead to violence, and other times they fade away as people move on. If you have been injured at work due to an assault, verbal or physical, you need to get in touch with the police, and then a lawyer. Not only can you have the person who assaulted you arrested, but you may also be able to sue them and your employer. Intentional assaults can be very stressful, so take further action against your employer if they try to get you to return to work too soon, or don’t discipline the guilty employee. Try to obtain as much evidence as you can to support your case if you have been injured at work, regardless of the cause of your injuries. Take photographs of your injuries, and try to get CCTV of the accident itself.
Slippery Floors
Slippery floors are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries. They can be very dangerous, and can even kill people, depending on where they are located. While slippery floors themselves are not illegal, failing to signpost them is. If your employer does not put warning signs up around slippery floors or puddles to let employees know there is a hazard, they could have to pay compensation in the event that an employee injures themselves. Make sure you are cautious when walking around your workplace, so you don’t end up falling over and hurting yourself. Signposting is, sadly, something a lot of employers completely overlook. It is also commonplace for signposts to be knocked over or moved out of the way, even when slippery floors are still present.
Workplace injuries are impossible to predict. They happen suddenly and without warning. If you have been injured at work and you believe your injuries were caused by your employer’s negligence, get in touch with a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to argue on your behalf and get you the compensation you are owed.
