Occupational Safety: Train New Workers to Prevent Injuries

A recent review of more than 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims from 2016 to 2020 found that more than one-third of workplace injuries occur during an employee’s first year on the job. Altogether, millions of missed workdays and millions of preventable injuries occurred during the four-year period. The largescale review draws attention to an important, yet all too often overlooked point: that increasing and improving training efforts for employees – particularly new employees – is an excellent way to promote safety in the workplace.

While there are several causes of workplace injuries, some of the most common ones include:

• Overexertion
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Being struck by an object
• Caught-in/caught-between hazards

Accidents like these typically lead to injuries like strains and sprains, fractures, bruises, inflammation and dislocation. In some cases, however, individuals sustain more significant injuries like chemical burns, electrocution, crushing injuries, amputation injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions, exposure injuries, and more.

Some Other Key Takeaways

A 2022 study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that workplace injuries among workers 65-years-old and above are more severe and more likely to result in disability and/or death than ones that occur in younger workers. While age is one factor, inexperience is undoubtedly another top contributor to safety obstacles in the workplace. Unlike their senior counterparts, new workers have far less workforce training and are generally less aware of workplace hazards and risks.

Though all employers are legally obligated to provide workers with a safe and healthful work environment that is free from recognized hazards, too few dedicate themselves to truly prioritizing safety. Workplace safety strategists at the National Safety Council (NSC) recommend taking the following steps to keep workers safe:

• Increase employee onboarding efforts, or the integration of new hires into the existing organization
• Step up employee training, operating procedures and other related efforts that promote workplace safety for workers
• When creating a safety management program, involve workers in the development, tracking, and carrying out of safety measures

To learn more about an employer’s responsibility to keep workers safe and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standards and requirements, please visit: https://www.osha.gov/workers/employer-responsibilities.

Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.