Preventing Workplace Concussions: Good for Employees and Employers
You’re probably not likely to get a concussion while working a desk job. There could be a falling box incident or a slip in the break room on somebody’s spilt coffee event, but you aren’t likely to fret over the possibility of a brain injury in the safety of your cubicle. Your chances of head injury, however, do increase if you work a more physical job, like on a construction site or in a factory. Overall, reports of at-work concussions are nowhere near the number of concussions sustained by professional football players or slip-and-fall senior citizens, but that doesn't mean we should ignore them.
While we may be pleased to hear that 91 percent of workers return to their jobs within 90 days of their accidents, there is still 9 percent of our workforce missing for an extended period and among the 91 percent of returnees, many of them may still be experiencing concussion symptoms. Workplace USA is not suffering as greatly from a concussion epidemic as the NFL is, but there are still many concerns about how head injuries at work are addressed. Any employees missing from their jobs, possibly out on workmen’s comp, represent a cost to a company’s bottom line and having staff who come to work with a perpetual headache or other ongoing post-concussion symptoms isn’t good for employees, their families or employers either.
Safe + Sound Week 2023 is upon us (August 7 – 13), a nationwide event that recognizes the success of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep American workers safe. There are many kinds of workplace safety issues that deserve attention. As an employer look at your workplace and listen to your employees’ suggestions to take steps to safeguard your workers from concussions.
In a recent study, only one in ten working patients seen with concussions in the emergency room were injured at work. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost three million patients with suspected brain injury visit the emergency room every year in the U.S.
Other studies indicate an even bigger problem with estimates of five million patients visiting emergency departments (ED) every year to be evaluated for a head injury. Approximately one-half are diagnosed with a TBI and as many as 95% of those with suspected TBI have mild TBI. This translates into 142,000-237,500 people with workplace concussions visiting the emergency room yearly. However, considering that an estimated five in 10 concussions go unreported, the number of workplace concussions is likely significantly higher.
We should consider what we can do to decrease this number. Supervisors, building managers and employees can help reduce the risk of falls, falling objects and bumps to the head by:
Providing protective equipment (PPE) in situations where warranted, like warehouses and factory floors. Make sure PPE is used and not sitting idly on the sidelines.
Remove tripping hazards and make sure walkways and workspaces are free of clutter, cords, puddles – or anything that can cause a slip, trip or fall.
Conduct regular inspections of the facility with an emphasis on walking and working surfaces.
Improve signage to alert employees of wet or slippery surfaces and low overhands or limited overhead clearance.
Clean and organize shelves and storage area spaces to avoid falling objects.
Don’t stand on desks or chairs, get a ladder instead.
Learn more about Safe + Sound Week and developing or improving your company’s workplace safety at : https://www.osha.gov/safeandsound/safety-and-health-programs