Millions of injuries occur in the workplace every year. Musculoskeletal injuries, including sprains, strains, and tears to muscles and connective tissues, are some of the most common injuries workers experience. Injuries within this classification can result from lifting injuries, being struck by objects, or even a simple misstep.

Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched too far from its normal position. Sprains of the fingers, wrists, knees and ankles are most common. Strains are the result of a muscle being over-used or moved in a manner that causes over-stretching. Strains can also be caused by repetitive movements that lead to overuse of a particular muscle or muscle group. Strains of the back, neck, groin, and hamstring are most common.

Workplace processes and hazards should be assessed, and corrective actions implemented, to reduce the likelihood of a musculoskeletal injury. Here are some general tips for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries:

• Encourage employees to participate in a stretching program at the beginning of each shift.
• Develop guidelines for employees regarding safe lifting practices, including guidelines for when assistance should be requested for lifting heavy objects. Train your employees and supervisors to encourage adherence to the guidelines.
• Encourage employees to wear proper attire, including footwear, gloves and other applicable protective equipment.
• Encourage extra caution when employees are required to walk across uneven or slippery surfaces such as ice or wet floors. Consider implementing corrective action whenever possible to eliminate or reduce slippery or uneven walking surfaces.
• Keep the floor and walkway clear of electrical, telephone and computer cables, boxes, etc. They are sprain and strain hazards waiting to happen.
• For office employees, encourage the use of proper ergonomics including sitting with feet flat on the floor and keeping elbows at a 90-degree angle while typing.

Use of Technology Can Help Reduce Musculoskeletal Injuries

“Wearable technology” typically invokes images of smartwatches or fitness trackers, but it isn’t limited to those specific pieces of technology. Rather, wearable technology can be any device kept on someone’s person that connects to the internet and logs activity. Typically, such devices interface with apps or websites that present tracked data in a readable or visual format. In recent years, wearable technology has evolved from the realm of personal activity monitoring into a viable business solution.

Potential Benefits for Employees – At the core, wearable technology is intended to improve insight into employees’ work practices and efficiencies. With this in mind, there are a variety of ways employees can benefit from using such devices such as preventing ergonomic issues and providing employees with an easy way to communicate with their workplaces. Accordingly, an employee is empowered to take their personal safety into their own hands.

Potential Benefits for Employers – Wearable technology offers a detailed view of how employees work and allows employers to analyze this data in impactful ways. Mapping trends can help improve productivity and reduce worker injuries, such as in the case of musculoskeletal injuries. Some wearable technology programs also provide employers the opportunity to empower employees to implement and enforce the workplace safety program, including documenting near miss incidents and corrective actions implemented.

The Western Growers Connected Worker Program was designed with these benefits in mind – to help make workplace safety programs more proactive and prevent injuries before they occur. Utilizing the latest advancements in wearable technology, the Connected Worker Program measures certain motions and detects unsafe movements of employees during their shift. The data is shared with the supervisor and used to identify risk trends, improve safety measures, and provide coaching opportunities to workers on injury prevention techniques. 

For more helpful information or workplace safety training, please contact Western Growers Insurance Services.

Western Growers Insurance Services is a full-service insurance brokerage offering a suite of insurance products and tailored risk management solutions to agribusiness and related industry members. For more information or assistance, please contact Ken Cooper, Director Risk Strategy for Western Growers Insurance Services, at [email protected]. 

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June has been designated as National Safety Month by the National Safety Council. This event is intended to increase awareness of workplace safety topics and reinforce our collaborative responsibility to keep each other safe. Safety is everyone’s responsibility!

This article is one of a four-part, weekly series following the topics designated for National Safety Month. 

The topics are:

Week 1: Musculoskeletal Injuries – These are the leading cause of workplace injury and cost billions each year in workers’ compensation and lost productivity costs.

Week 2: Workplace Impairment – We all know the dangers of substance use on the job. Did you know that mental distress, stress, and fatigue are also impairing?

Week 3: Injury Prevention – In 2020 alone, more than four million workplace injuries required medical attention in the U.S. Focus on preventive measures can improve organizational efficiency and reduce costs associated with workplace injuries.

June 14, 2022 has been designated as National Forklift Safety Day by the Industrial Truck Association. This event is intended to highlight measures critical to safe operation of forklifts and related equipment.

The latest statistics from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 614 workers operating powered industrial trucks, commonly referred to as forklifts, lost their lives from 2011 to 2017. In 2017 alone, 74 fatalities occurred involving factors such as struck by powered vehicles, struck by falling objects, falls to lower levels, and pedestrian versus powered vehicle incidents. On average, 95 people are seriously injured in forklift incidents every day and one person is killed in a forklift accident every four days in the United States. Non-serious injuries related to forklift incidents account for approximately 61,800 occurrences each year.

It should not be a surprise that a forklift can be a dangerous piece of heavy machinery. These injury and fatality statistics are a good reminder of the hazards associated with the operation of forklifts at the workplace.

There are several reasons why forklifts can be such a workplace hazard.

• Forklifts can weigh up to 9,000 lbs., which can be three times heavier than a small car.
• They can move at 18 mph with a load.
• Forklifts only have front brakes, making them harder to stop than vehicles equipped with all wheel braking systems.
• Heavy loads on the front forks and a shift in the center of gravity can make the forklift unstable and difficult to handle.
• A forklift uses the rear wheels for turning, causing the rear end to swing outward which can cause an increased risk of tipping over during tight turns. A forklift overturning is the most common incident, accounting for 25% of all forklift accidents.

Focusing on training and equipment inspections can mitigate these risks.

Training

Causes of forklift related accidents are attributed to untrained or undertrained forklift operators. Not only is it vital to properly train forklift operators, but it is also required under OSHA standards. In California, the Cal/OSHA safety order standard, Title 8 Section 3650 includes 33 operator rules that must be followed and be posted for operators to review. The safety order standard for powered industrial truck training can be found on Title 8 Section 3668.

Within this training, there are two main categories to review.

• Powered industrial truck safety. Special attention needs to be given for forklift specific topics such as controls, instrumentation, steering, visibility, capacity, vehicle stability, and proper mounting and dismounting.
• Workplace environment. Focusing on the unique locations or conditions where the forklifts will be in operation. These topics may include surface conditions, load manipulation, pedestrian traffic, aisle widths, loading docks and ramp inclines, nighttime work, and indoor to outdoor transitions.

Inspections

An inspection of a powered industrial truck at the start of each shift is mandatory under OSHA standards. Areas of concern for a forklift inspection include:

• Are brakes working properly?
• Is the steering responsive and precise?
• Does the tread on wheels provide the necessary traction?
• Are there any leaks in the fuel or hydraulic system?
• Are the battery packs charging properly?
• Are the lights, horn, and other accessories functioning?
• Is the Roll Over Protection System (ROPS), in conjunction with seatbelts in good working order?

A checklist identifying the unit and operator or mechanic performing the inspection must be recorded to advise of any unsafe conditions or maintenance issues that are found and need correction.

While pen and paper are the traditional forms of completing and documenting a forklift inspection, there are other means to comply with this requirement and make data regarding the inspections more usable. Customized checklists for operators and their forklifts are available in some mobile device enables apps. Some of these apps can generate prompt notifications to leadership or maintenance staff when issues are discovered, creating an opportunity to take immediate steps to resolve the issues or concerns; addressing maintenance concerns promptly improves forklift operator safety.

Other technology systems are also available for facilities using forklifts. For example, an onboard video camera with telematic capabilities can be useful to identify unsafe conditions or unsafe operator behavior. With these systems onboard a forklift, a field of view from the operator’s perspective can be monitored. In addition, these systems can detect impacts, near misses, and provide useful data for the location and runtime of a forklift within a facility. Having such devices installed can be useful for training purposes and creating a safer and more efficient workplace.

Western Growers Insurance Services is a full-service insurance brokerage offering a suite of insurance and tailored risk management solutions to agricultural and related industry members. For more information on onsite forklift training and certification, the use of forklift inspection checklist apps, or onboard telematic systems, please contact Ken Cooper, Director Risk Strategy for Western Growers Insurance Services, at [email protected]. 

Injury and illness prevention programs, or written safety programs, are the cornerstone of an effective workplace safety program. For these programs to be successful tools in preventing workplace injuries, they should include the systematic identification, evaluation and prevention or control of workplace- and task-specific hazards. When implemented effectively, workplaces experience significant decreases in injuries, and they often report a transformed workplace safety culture that can lead to higher productivity, reduced turnover and reduced costs.

The following are some actions businesses can take to implement an effective injury and illness prevention program:

1. Management Leadership and Oversight
   • Establish clear safety and health goals for the program and define the actions needed to achieve those goals.
   • Designate one or more individuals as the safety “champion(s)” specifically responsible for implementing and maintaining the program.
   • Provide sufficient resources to ensure effective program implementation.
   • Remain engaged and involved in the program; show support and encouragement for employees who are positive examples of the organization’s safety culture.
2. Worker Participation
   • Partner with workers for input and feedback when developing and implementing the program; involve them in evaluating and updating the program.
   • Involve workers in workplace inspections and incident investigations.
   • Empower and encourage workers to report concerns, such as hazards, injuries, illnesses and near misses in a timely manner. Consider utilizing technology to make reporting of these issues and documenting corrective actions more efficient.
3. Hazard Identification and Assessment
   • Identify, assess, and document workplace hazards by regularly inspecting the workplace and soliciting input from workers.
   • Investigate injuries and illnesses to identify hazards that may have caused them and potential corrective actions.
4. Hazard Prevention and Control
   • Establish and implement a plan to prioritize and control hazards identified in the workplace.
   • Provide interim controls to protect workers from any hazards that cannot be controlled immediately.
   • Verify that all control measures are implemented and are effective.
   • Discuss the hazard control plan with affected workers.
5. Education and Training
   • Provide education and training to workers in a language and vocabulary they can understand to ensure that they know the following:
     • Elements of the program.
     • How to participate in the program.
     • Known hazards in the workplace and processes in place to prevent injury.
     • Procedures for reporting injuries, illnesses, and safety and health concerns.
     • Ways to recognize, eliminate, control and/or reduce hazards.
   • Conduct refresher education and training programs periodically.
6. Program Evaluation and Improvement
   • Conduct a periodic review, no less frequently than annually, of the program to determine whether it has been implemented as designed and is making progress towards achieving its goals.
   • Modify the program as necessary to correct deficiencies or when there is a significant change in a process or procedure.
   • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement the program.

For more helpful information, visit the Injury and Illness Prevention Program page on OSHA’s website or contact Western Growers Insurance Services.

Although injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls are often easily preventable, they still occur frequently; these types of accidents can cause serious pain: everything from cuts and bruises to head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, sprains, and strains. There are many ways businesses can protect workers against slips, trips, and falls everywhere from the field to the production floor.  

The proper assessment of a worksite and identification of potential hazards is the first step in preventing slip, trip and fall injuries.  Employees should be appropriately trained to recognize potential hazards and how to report and/or correct them immediately. Some general tips in this respect include:

• Before beginning a new shift or work task, inspect the work area to identify, eliminate or correct hazardous working conditions.
• Work areas should be appropriately lit.
• Machinery or immovable objects that might cause someone to trip should be barricaded.

Appropriate “housekeeping” is one of the most important (and basic) ways to prevent slips, trip, and fall incidents. Some tips in this respect include:

• Keep walkways clean and free of debris or other tripping hazards.
• Remove tools, extension cords, or other items from walkways that might cause a tripping hazard.
• Clean up spills immediately.

Falls from ladders, equipment, and uneven surfaces can also be prevented through appropriate training and preventative measures.  Some examples include:

• Do not dismount tractors, forklifts, or other equipment before the equipment has come to a complete stop and the brakes set. Appropriately dismount equipment using the handholds or rails.
• Be aware of slipping and falling hazards when working on raised platforms, and use caution whenever working at heights.
• Considerations for ladders include:
  • Examine ladders to ensure that they are in good working condition before each use.

• Do not place one foot on the ladder and the other on an adjacent surface or object.
• Never jump off a ladder.
• Avoid using a ladder in wet or icy conditions.

A few additional tips to keep in mind when considering ways to prevent slip, trip, and fall incidents include:

• Wear appropriate footgear with good traction to decrease your chance of slipping and falling
• Afford employees with extra time for tasks conducted in muddy or wet conditions.

For more helpful information or workplace safety training, please contact Western Growers Insurance Services.

Western Growers Insurance Services is a full-service insurance brokerage offering a suite of insurance and tailored risk management solutions and training to agribusiness and related industry members. For more information or assistance, please contact Ken Cooper, Director Risk Strategy for Western Growers Insurance Services, at [email protected]. 

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June has been designated as National Safety Month by the National Safety Council. This event is intended to increase awareness of workplace safety topics and reinforce our collaborative responsibility to keep each other safe. Safety is everyone’s responsibility!

This article is one of a four-part, weekly series following the topics designated for National Safety Month. 

The topics are:

Week 1: Musculoskeletal Injuries – These are the leading cause of workplace injury and cost billions each year in workers’ compensation and lost productivity costs.

Week 2: Workplace Impairment – We all know the dangers of substance use on the job. Did you know that mental distress, stress, and fatigue are also impairing?

Week 3: Injury Prevention – In 2020 alone, more than four million workplace injuries required medical attention in the U.S. Focus on preventive measures can improve organizational efficiency and reduce costs associated with workplace injuries.