The Law Office of Gary C. Nelson

We’re On Your Side

Safety training can prevent industrial workers’ accidents

On Behalf of | Sep 21, 2017 | Industrial Workers' Accidents |

While workers in all industries in California have to face safety hazards every day, certain industries pose higher risks than others. Certain industrial hazards threaten blue-collar workers and technicians in construction, mining and other industries. Authorities believe that the occurrence of the most frequently reported industrial workers’ accidents could be minimized with proper safety training.

Falls from higher levels represent a significant number of on-the-job accidents — often with devastating consequences. Safety advisors say most falls result from improper use or lack of fall protection, unstable work surfaces and human error. Adequate training in the proper use of personal protective equipment can eliminate a significant number of injuries and fatalities. Another cause of many industrial accidents is the exposure to dangerous working parts of machines. Employers must ensure safeguards and lockout/tag-out devices are in place, and employees must receive training in the proper use of these devices.

Providing training to teach employees how to prevent physical injuries such as fractures, muscle and ligament sprains and strains and back injuries can prevent many lost work hours. Teaching proper lifting techniques and how to use protective equipment to reduce body stress can be invaluable. Furthermore, employers can offer some employees the opportunity to do first-aid courses. Not only can this help to treat minor bruises and cuts, but having somebody do CPR while waiting for first responders could save lives.

While proper safety training is recommended, some employers in California will likely continue to prioritize profits over employee welfare. Victims of industrial workers’ accidents can pursue financial relief after suffering injuries. They can file benefits claims with the workers’ compensation insurance program to cover medical expenses and lost wages.

Source: reliableplant.com, “4 Industrial Hazards That Can be Reduced with Safety Training“, Jayde Ferguson, Accessed on Sept. 16, 2017

Archives