Fall injuries can be extremely severe. Thousands of workers each year must end their careers due to these crippling injuries. However, the workplace where workers are most likely to suffer a fall may surprise you.
Many people believe that you are most likely to suffer a fall on a construction site. However, the statistics say differently. According to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, you are over twice as likely to suffer an injury from a fall in an office environment as compared to any other work environment.
Why do so many people fall in offices?
Lack of vigilance is a serious problem in office environments. Because people do not consider office environments to be inherently dangerous, accidents are quite common. For instance, people may trip over file drawers left carelessly open, or extension cords draped across walkways.
Another common source of fall are wet floors. Sometimes janitorial staff cause wet floors, and other times workers track in rain or snow. Additionally, sometimes people stand on their chairs to reach high up objects rather than fetch a proper step ladder.
How can I prevent falls?
Being aware of your surroundings can help prevent injury. Make sure that you are paying attention to what is going on around you when you are walking down the hallway. If you see a spill, clean it up even if you did not make the mess. Using a step ladder to reach high up objects will also help prevent falls.
If you see any hazardous situations in your workplace, make sure to report them to your employer. These may include improperly placed extension cords and crumpled up carpet in corners.