A day’s work can damage your well-being, and you might not even realise to what extent it does. UK work statistics show that 822,000 employers suffered from work-related stress, anxiety or depression in 2020-2021. Do you feel like your job brings you unhappiness? If so, then someone should twitch you once in a while and remind you that you work to improve your life, not to get ill. Nevertheless, you must know that some jobs and assignments can threaten your health, and it’s best if you at least improve your working conditions.

Several measures help you maintain health in the short- and long-term while simultaneously increasing your productivity. Keep reading to see what a work-related accident is, what you can do to minimise the damage in case an unexpected mishap happens while you’re at work and what are the most common health issues risky jobs imply.

Is there a difference between occupational diseases and workplace accidents?

You must realise that workplace accidents can happen to you if you’re an employee. This is an unexpected accident and, in several fields with high safety risks, like trucking and construction, it’s even more crucial to take care of your health and know what to do in the event of a tragedy.

You should know the difference between the two terms above and that not every work-related disease is an occupational disease.

An occupational injury is a wound, scar or bruise that occurs at work. In contrast, an occupational illness can be a disease, sickness or anything that leads to ill health contracted on the job.

Usually, occupational injuries are the consequence of a traumatic event that caused physical harm and they occur instantly. In contrast, occupational illnesses happen over time and are a result of long-term exposure to a harmful work environment.

What to do if you’re in an accident at work?

If you ever injure yourself at work, you’ll probably wonder who’ll pay for this mishap. In most cases, you’ll be eligible to make a claim since work led to your pain, loss of earnings or changes to your lifestyle. The experts from https://www.accidentatworkclaimcare.org.uk/ want you to know what evidence is best to provide to prove you suffered harm and what to do if something bad happens to you at work:

– Take photographs, record or obtain CCTV footage – this is clear evidence that you’re not faking your accident.

– Ask for witnesses’ support – the evidence someone who saw the occurrence gives in court can make or break a successful workplace accident claim, and you should seek their support.

– Keep a record of the financial losses caused by the accident at work – this is necessary to get compensated and could include medication and travel costs of loss of earnings.

– Get medical help – never neglect your health and keep track of your medical records to back up your workplace accident claim.

Are there ways to skip the bureaucracy of the claim?

Unfortunately, you might sweat a little if you want to get through this process alone. You might also need to dedicate some time to this issue and ensure you correctly narrate how your boss broke their duty of care. It’s not easy work, but there are injury claims solicitors that can help employees who get in accidents at work. If disasters happen at work to you and you’re confused about what to do first and how to do it better, you can contact an injury claim solicitor to help you out.

What are the most common workplace accidents?

You know what an accident at work is and what to do if it happens to you, but do you know the most common reasons for occupational injuries and workplace accidents?

If your employer omitted to talk about workplace accidents, know that the NCBI (The National Centre of Biotechnology Information) states that occupational injuries can result from:

Physical hazards

  • Driving is dangerous, and if you spend much time on the road, you’re exposed to risks and need to take safety precautions.
  • Slips and falls often occur if you deal with wet floors, are clumsy or in a hurry.
  • Objects, boxes and the like can fall from great heights or shelves and hurt you, especially on construction sites.
  • Electrocutions usually occur due to unsafe workplace practices, improperly installed electrical equipment or malfunctioning a defective product. Employers should ensure they apply every necessary safety measure and train employees well.
  • Explosions and fires are highly likely to occur if you work with flammable or improperly stored hazardous materials, open flames or faulty gas lines.
  • Getting caught or stuck in heavy machinery can lead to severe or fatal injuries. You must be adequately trained to use dangerous machinery, primarily if you work on a construction site, farm, or factory.
  • Chronic back injuries can be a consequence of lifting heavy objects incorrectly.

Occupational illnesses

To meet OSHA recordability criteria, the Administration says that aggravated existing symptoms or the onset of symptoms must be linked with exposure at work. Several common contracted occupational illnesses are:

  • Mesothelioma – it’s a form of cancer that can develop due to exposure to asbestosat work that you may unknowingly ingest. Asbestos affects the tissues in your stomach, lungs and other areas of your body.
  • Chemical poisoning – it can result from exposure to pesticides or other toxic substances and can be an aftermath of your error or your employer’s or colleagues’ negligence.
  • Carpal tunnel can happen – repetitive motions in your hand can lead to permanent damage, instability to grip things, pain or numbness. This illness can be the aftermath of using particular tools like drills, hammers and chainsaws.
  • Industrial asthma – you can contract this illness if you continuously expose yourself to airborne irritants that affect your lungs.

 

Conclusion

Your employer must take his duty of care seriously, respect his obligations and implement the necessary safety measures. If you sense there’s something wrong at work that could lead to unforeseen accidents, report the problem to your superiors.

You must ensure you perform your job safely, dress accordingly and not forget to take breaks and vacations once in a while.