8 common types of workplace emergencies

Integrated Emergency Response (iER), a comprehensive emergency response solution designed to provide unparalleled peace of mind and safety for its users, discusses eight common types of workplace emergencies.

“Millions of employees are likely to experience life-threatening incidents while at work – although some accidents are unavoidable and can be prevented,” says iER manager, Monique Delport.

Emergencies can occur anywhere and anytime when you least expect them. However, some situations can become a threat at your workplace. These situations can be determined by the nature of your work or influenced by extreme weather conditions. Most of these emergencies can be anticipated during safety planning to ensure you are well-prepared for unexpected situations.

Some incidents are unavoidable if you work in a high-risk environment, such as public service or a mine. It’s important to take workplace emergency readiness seriously to reduce your chances of injury when it happens. Most importantly, it’s vital to understand why you should stay prepared and how to react during a crisis.

Types of workplace emergencies

Workplace emergencies come in various forms. Some are common everywhere, while others are limited to the kind of industry you’re in.

Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are leading hazards to be cautious of at work. They can put you at risk of injuries such as cuts, fractures and fatalities. Wet spills, clutter on the floor, or carrying heavy objects are some of the factors that can contribute to these workplace emergencies.

Explosions and fires
Did you know that explosions and fires are responsible for the highest casualty rates? While they aren’t common workplace emergencies, they can cause significant structural and individual harm. Generators are one of the most frequent risks for explosions caused by battery acid leaks.

Burnout injuries
Research suggests that burnout can lead to on-the-job accidents and injuries. If your job requires heavy lifting, pushing or pulling objects, being overexerted can result in falls and related injuries. If you are feeling exhausted, you should take time off to ensure you rest adequately to prevent the likelihood of making mistakes that can endanger your life while at work.

Vehicle-related accidents
Some accidents involve vehicles used to transport goods for your employer. If you are a driver or your job requires you to travel constantly, you should remain vigilant of vehicle-related accidents. It’s crucial to follow driving safety from your training and general rules of the road to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident while on duty.

Falling objects
Employees in construction sites or warehouses are vulnerable to the risk of falling objects, even if they have the correct personal protective equipment. This is a common hazard that can result in severe injuries or fatalities. Effective measures to reduce incidents of falling objects are necessary for improved safety in the workplace.

Ergonomic injuries
In some cases, you may be vulnerable to repetitive strain injuries that may develop over time due to exposure to ergonomic factors such as extreme temperatures, using too much force or lifting objects incorrectly. These injuries can occur in any work environment, even at home offices.

Weather-related emergencies
It is necessary to respond effectively before severe weather changes when you’re at work. Various weather-related emergencies include slipping and tripping, being unable to leave your workplace, or falling objects. Most importantly, you should know potential hazards when working in confined spaces with electrical equipment or heavy machinery.

Chemical spills
Chemical spills can increase the risk of exposure to toxic or highly flammable contaminants. It’s essential to contact emergency responders through the free-to-use iER app to help clean up the spill. Failure to follow emergency protocol during a chemical spill can threaten your health.

“An emergency can happen when you least expect it, even at work. Your employer should have safety measures to reduce the risk of injuries and life-threatening consequences,” says Delport. “However, you should download the free iER app as your go-to emergency response app. iER connects you to more than 14 000 medical and non-medical emergency service providers.”

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