Download The 6 most common employer safety concerns

October 2013
A Saving Chicago CPR Publication
Chicago’s Premiere American Heart
Association Training Site
The 6 most common employer
safety concerns
How to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate workplace accidents
Why should I be concerned about
health and safety in the workplace?
The modern workplace is changing more rapidly now than it ever has in history. Although health and
safety standards have increased over the past 20 years, with workplace fatalities consistently decreasing from 1991 to 2012[1], changing technology and environments have also introduced many new
concerns for employers in all industries.
According to one recent estimate by the National Safety Council, occupational injuries, illnesses, and
fatalities cost the U.S. economy an average of $142 billion every year, with employers paying an average of one billion dollars a week on worker’s compensation alone. [2] [3]
$1000 $2000 $3000 $4000 $5000 $6000 $7000
The first step towards a safer and healthier
workplace is awareness. This guide will
help you identify some of the most common
occupational safety concerns and show how
to reduce their impact on your employees
and your business through prevention measures and first aid training.
Average Return on Investment
Workplace illnesses, injuries, and deaths are clearly a major burden on the U.S. economy and businesses, however many incidents are preventable. A recent study conducted by Liberty Mutual found
that, on average, for every $1 spent on safety, businesses saved $3 on eventual direct costs related to
accidents.[12]
Average return on a
$2000 investment in safety
precautions is $6000
$500 $1000 $1500 $2000 $2500 $3000 $3500
Money Spent on Safety Precautions
Source: The Liberty Mutual Foundation
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What are the most common employer health & safety concerns?
1. Stress
A recent survey conducted by the Trades Union
Congress found that employers view stress as the
most significant health and safety issue in their
workplace. This problem has seen an increase in
the years since the 2008 recession, with more employees reporting worries about job security and
financial concerns.
Although stress is frequently perceived as a minor
problem, it has significant health implications.
Stress can have a negative effect on serious pre
existing physical and mental conditions, including,
but not limited to:
•
•
•
•
•
High stress has not been shown to cause cardiovascular disease, but it has been linked to an
increased risk of developing it. [4] For this reason
alone it is a problem that should be taken seriously.
If you’re worried that your workplace subjects
employees to high levels of stress, hiring a counselor could help them deal with their anxiety and
identify potential problems before they become
more serious.
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Depression
Fatigue
Insomnia
Even minor stress can lead to more
serious conditions.
Therapists can improve employees’ mental health
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Always make sure workers take frequent breaks.
2. Overexertion
An estimated 3.5 million injuries occur every year
because of overexertion. Most common in labor
intensive professions, overexertion can also occur
in other, less physical professions. For example,
carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by the repetitive motion of typing.
You can help prevent overexertion by sharing these
simple precautions with employees:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stretch before heavy lifting
Lift with bent legs
Never bend, twist, or reach while lifting
Always ask for help if you need it
Never strain to lift a load that is to heavy
Take frequent breaks
Although the most common injury associated with
overexertion is back strains, the effects can be
much more serious. Overexertion was the leading
cause of preventable deaths and injuries in the
workplace in 2012. [5]
Aside from minor strains and pain, Overexertion
can lead to hernias, arthritis, and difficulty walking
or moving. It can also trigger sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in people with underlying heart disease.
[10]
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Violence is the leading cause of occupational fatalities
among women.
3. Workplace Violence
In 2012 violence was responsible for 18% of fatal
occupational injuries, and was the leading cause
of death for women in the workplace. An average
of 2 million American employees report some kind
of workplace violence every year. [1]
The problem is usually associated with banks, retail
stores, and other industries where robbery is common. However, no industry is immune. Violence
in the workplace can result from dissatisfied customers, disputes between employees, or can be a
random act. This makes it one of the most difficult
safety issues to anticipate.
The first step towards preventing workplace violence is taking a zero tolerance approach to the
issue. Remember that violence includes threats,
harassment, and intimidation, not just physical
attacks, and should not be tolerated with anyone
who works for or has contact with your company. If
you are in a high risk industry, employing security
professionals and installing cameras can also help
to reduce the risk of a violent incident.
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Electrical hazards can be minimized by following OSHA
guidelines.
4. Electric Shock
As electronics become more common in all areas
of the workplace, so does the risk of electric shock.
Electrical hazards are no longer relegated to specialized professions such as engineers and electricians. Power strips, extension cords, and computers now make potentially life threatening shocks
possible in even the safest professions. Electrical
shock accounts for approximately 5% of all on the
job fatalities. [1]
three may be life threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Electrical hazards can be reduced by seeing that
your employees receive the proper training for
their equipment. By following the OSHA safety
guidelines for electrical safety, you can greatly
reduce the risk of accident related to electric shock.
Electrical shock occurs when current passes
through the body, resulting in unpleasant sensations, reflex reactions, or, at worst, severe burns,
ventricular fibrillation or brain damage. The latter
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5. Slips & Falls
One of the most common of workplace accidents,
falls accounted for 605 employee deaths and
212,760 injuries in 2009
Fall related accidents are most prevalent in the retail, wholesale, health and construction industries,
with construction reporting the highest number of
fatalities. [7]
Falls usually occur when a worker is carrying a
heavy load, moving over an unstable or slippery
surface, or working near an unprotected edge.
Almost all falls are preventable if the necessary
precautions are taken.
OSHA recommends these steps to reduce the risk
of accidental falls:
• All employees should wear non-slip shoes when working in an active environment
• Extreme caution should be taken when near an unprotected ledge
• All floor holes and openings should be well marked
• Heavily trafficked areas should remain clean
and uncluttered
• Ladders should only be used on level, stable
ground
The proper signage can greatly reduce
the risk of a fall.
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6. Heart Attacks
Although not always a result of occupational
duties, heart attacks accounted for approximately
18 percent of all workplace fatalities reported to
OSHA in 2012.
Proper diet and exercise reduces the
risk of heart attack.
Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, occur
when blood flow to the heart is interrupted. This
can cause damage to the heart tissue and lead
to death. Heart attacks are usually the result of
preexisting cardiovascular disease but are up to
35 times more likely to occur when under extreme
physical or mental stress. [6]
Because most heart attacks at the workplace
occur because of preexisting medical conditions,
it is difficult for employers to prevent them. However, steps can be taken to reduce the risk of
fatality if a heart attack does occur in the workplace. Training employees in Automated External
Defibrillators and CPR can significantly reduce the
risk of death in heart attack victims.
Heart attacks are usually the result of
a pre existing heart condition.
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What makes the workplace safer
and healthier for employees?
It is clear from our brief look at the 6 most common workplace safety concerns that no
work environment is free from illness and injury. It is the responsibility of all employers to
take steps to prevent and prepare for accidents.
Following OSHA Guidelines
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) provides extensive guidelines for workplace safety in all of the discussed categories and
many more. By following these guidelines, you
can greatly reduce the risk of workplace accidents.
Learn more about this and other steps you can
take to improve workplace safety at OSHA.gov.
First Aid Training
Even in the safest workplaces, accidents are inevitable.
The most effective way to mitigate injury when problems do arise is through employee education and first
aid training. By creating a team of educated first responders through an employee training program, you
can greatly reduce the risk of death and severe injury
in the workplace.
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What makes an effective first aid
program?
AED Training
CPR Training
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is
a portable device that automatically diagnoses
and treats cardiac arrhythmias. It is a potentially
life saving device, effective in many workplace
accidents.
The moments before the EMTs arrive are critical in deciding whether an accident victim will
survive. If an accident victim has sudden cardiac
arrest, CPR can often sustain brain function long
enough for medical professionals to properly
diagnose and treat the problem.
In 2012, there were 1216 fatalities from heart
attacks, 354 from electric shock, and 267 from
asphyxia in the workplace. Of these, OSHA
estimates that up to 60 percent could have been
prevented had employees had access to an AED
and appropriate training in its use. [6]
AED access and employee training is a necessity
in industries where the risk of electric shock or
asphyxiation is particularly high. But it is also
important to remember that cardiac arrest can
occur even in the safest industries. An AED could
mean the difference between life and death.
CPR is an extremely effective way to reduce the
risk of fatalities in the workplace. Studies have
shown that in situations where CPR training is
widespread, SCA survival rates are about 30%,
whereas areas where CPR training is rare, survival rates are as low as 1 to 2 percent. [11]
Implement Your First Aid Program
By following the OSHA standards and instituting a comprehensive first aid program with CPR and AED
training, you can significantly improve the safety of your workplace. While implementing a first aid
program may seem overwhelming, help is available.
Saving Chicago CPR can provide your employees with life saving AED, CPR, and general first aid
training. We’ll walk you through the process step by step, helping you implement a program that
makes your workplace a happier, healthier place.
If you have any questions about first aid training or need help starting your program, call us at (773)
969-6846. You can also visit us online at http://savingchicagocpr.com
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[1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2013
[2] National Safety Council. (2006). Injury Facts, 2004 - 2006 Edition. Itasca, IL, p. 51.
[3] OSHA Business Case for Safety and Health 2011 https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/topics/businesscase/costs.html
[4] The Impact of High Stress Dr. Steve Bressert 2011 http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-impact-of-stress/000104
[5] National Safety Council. National Safety Council Focuses on Preventing Overexertion at Work and at Home During National Safety Month, 2010, Itasca, IL.
[6] OSHA. Automated External Defibrillators. 2012. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/aed/#1
[7] CDC. Fall Injury Prevention in the Workplace. 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/
[8] American Heart Association. About Sudden Death and Cardiac Arrest. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=604.
[9] Trade Unions Council. Safety Reps Guide to the HSE Stress Management Standards. http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/stress/safety-repsguide-hse-stress-management-standards
[10] OSHA. Fundamentals of a Workplace First Aid Program. 2012. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf
[11] Heart.org. CPR Statistics. 2012
[12] The American Society of Engineers. Return on Investment. http://www.asse.org/professionalaffairs-new/bosc/ROI.php
A Saving Chicago CPR Publication
Copyright 2013
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