What Are The Most Common Causes Of Industrial Accidents?

CONTENTS

• Machinery
• Slips, trips and falls
• Hazardous chemicals
• Working at height
• Manual handling
• Our professional factory cleaning services
• Get in touch

According to the Health & Safety Executive, in Great Britain there were 142 deaths in the workplace during 2020-2021. This alarming figure shows why stringent health and safety guidelines are so important to have in place to protect the welfare of your employees.

Due to the high pressure and risks involved with working in industrial environments such as factories, it is unfortunately not surprising that the likelihood of accidents occurring is high.

Read on below to read about some of the most common causes of workplace accidents in industrial environments, and how employers can limit the possibility of these happening.

Machinery

Operating machinery and equipment is at the heart of many industrial workplaces, but working with it comes with many risks.

Some of the most common accidents associated with machinery involve employees becoming trapped between different components of the machinery, or if items of clothing become stuck in the equipment.

Employers must follow different regulations regarding work machinery to ensure the safety of their staff, such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974.

Some aspects of these regulations include providing safe equipment for staff to work with, as well as making sure that workers have knowledge of all possible hazards associated with operating machinery.

Slips, trips and falls

This is another leading cause of industrial workplace accidents. An injury could result due to many factors, from objects being left on the floors to doors not being shut properly. The possibilities of accidents from slips, trips and falls are endless.

Slippery substances on the ground should be dealt with promptly and sectioned off to be cleaned. Any objects left lying around should also be cleaned up quickly and stored in the relevant place.

Measures like this will help to prevent accidents from occurring in the workplace. Ensuring that staff are aware of their health and safety responsibilities is important too, as this reminds them of the importance of safe working practices.

We have extensive experience as a factory cleaning company of eliminating dangers caused by spillages in the workplace. We use our excellent factory cleaning solutions to restore workplaces to a safe space for operations once more.

Hazardous chemicals

Also present as a risk in an industrial environment are hazardous chemicals. If you come into contact with one of these harmful substances, the consequences can be devastating.

The effects of exposure to hazardous chemicals ranges from dermatitis to different types of cancer. It is crucial that the correct health and safety guidelines are followed when working with these kinds of substances.

We offer hazardous waste clean up services and can be on site to deal with the issue in just 60 minutes in cases of emergency. Our professionals will wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment where necessary, and also have the relevant qualifications to dispose of harmful substances at registered hazardous chemical waste sites.

For more information about how to work safely with these substances in the workplaces, take a look at this useful guide from Prospect.

Working at height

Due to the dangerous nature of this kind of work, it is the responsibility of the employer to provide training and ensure the safety of their employees.

However, accidents sadly still happen. If someone falls from a great height, they are at risk of sustaining serious injuries. In some instances, it could even be fatal. Serious injuries can result in life-changing consequences for workers if they find themselves suffering from a fall. 

As a factory cleaning company, we are very aware of the dangers of working at height. Our skilled technicians are IPAF qualified, meaning they are qualified to clean and operate in high areas. They have all the relevant knowledge to complete the job to a high standard whilst also ensuring their and others health and safety.

Manual handling

Manual handling is another cause of workplace accidents. Human error and inadequate health and safety training can often be to blame for this.

Employers are required to provide training to employees on how to safely handle equipment when lifting to prevent injury.

If equipment is not carried correctly, this can result in a number of issues. For instance, employees can sustain back injuries from picking objects up improperly, or they might drop something on their foot if it is not secured.

Like other workplace accidents, employers must act to decrease the threat of injuries and to perform risk assessments where required. Workers must also act in the right manner when carrying equipment so as to avoid injury. These different responsibilities are incredibly important for protecting the welfare of all staff and must be followed strictly.

Our professional factory cleaning services

We can help you increase the efficiency of workplaces with our factory cleaning services. As part of our offering, we can create a personalised plan that will meet all of your cleaning needs.

Our teams are experienced in all types of factory cleaning and will not leave the site unless you are satisfied with the work that has been carried out. Using the latest industry equipment to conduct the clean, our teams will leave no stone unturned.

Included in our offering is a complimentary ICE SHIELD® treatment. This combines electrostatic technology with a persistent solution to remove 100% of bacteria and viruses for a period of up to 28 days, including coronavirus.

Get in touch

To book a factory clean for your workplace today or to find out more about our offering, you can contact us on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.

Our customer service team is here to answer any queries or concerns you have regarding the service and are available 24/7.