The Effects Of The Work- Related Injuries And Illness

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In 2013, more than 3 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industrial employers occurred in the United States, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.3 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, according to estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 2.9 million (94.9 percent) of the more than 3.0 million non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2013 were injuries. The cost associated with workplace injuries is also becoming a problem for industrial companies. Between 1998 and 2000, the direct cost of claims from disabling work-related injuries and illnesses grew 8.3 percent to $42.5 billion. The top three injuries causes were responsible for 51 percent of the direct cost in 2000, up from 46 percent in 1998. The three top rates are overexertion (resulting in excessive lifting, pushing pulling, and throwing), falls, and bodily reaction (caused by climbing, bending, and tripping). This paper will explore the causes of the work- related injuries and illness, the cost, and ways to prevent workplace injuries. It will also look into more recent data to determine if the rate of injuries and illnesses are changing. Work related injuries can be classified by the specific type of accident from which they resulted from. The more common cause of work related injuries are overexertion, impact accidents(involve a worker being hit by an object or against it), falls, bodily reaction (to chemicals), compression, motor vehicle accidents, exposure to radiation, rubbing/abrasions, and exposure to extreme temperatures. Overexertion results from the employee working beyond their physical capabilities and is the leading cause of ... ... middle of paper ... ...U.S. have taken a long time to adopt a workplace safety environment that emphasizes planning and carrying out work in the safest way possible. Accident prevention programs are based on proven studies that have been widely used in the industry to bring improvements in quality, environment and safety, and health performance. Effective accident prevention programs highlights ownership of the program, participation by employees, and a “find and fix” approach to workplace hazards. OSHA believes that the adoption of an accident prevention program based on simple, sound, proven principles will help millions of U.S. businesses improve their compliance with existing laws and regulations, decrease the incidence of workplace injuries and illnesses, reduce costs (including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums) and enhance their overall business operations.

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