Your new manufacturing plant, equipped with high-end machinery, has received a large order, keeping your staff working around the clock. Unfortunately, one day, a worker's fatal accident halted all production and led to legal scrutiny. To avoid such crises, it is essential to understand the various types of industrial accidents and implement effective safety measures to prevent them.
Common types of industrial accidents
The five most common types of industrial accidents are:
- Slips, falls, and trips are common in industrial settings due to wet floors, uneven surfaces, or cluttered pathways. If your workers face any of these incidents, they may face injuries ranging from sprains to fractures.
- There is a risk that your worker may get caught in moving machinery parts, crushed by heavy equipment, or injured during maintenance tasks.
- In industrial settings, heavy vehicle collisions and overturns can cause fatal injuries to pedestrians, damage to other vehicles and even harm to third‑party property. These incidents are often caused by unskilled drivers or poor visibility on the road.
- If your factory has exposed wires, faulty equipment, or improperly handled electrical systems, your workers may suffer electric shocks, burns, or even electrocution.
- If you are in the chemical industry, your workers are at risk of exposure to chemical spills and leaks. In the event of such an incident, they may experience skin burns, respiratory issues, or poisoning.
How to prevent industrial accidents?
Here are some tips to prevent industrial accidents:
- Train your workers to perform their tasks effectively. For example, the person responsible for operating a forklift must be trained in load balancing, speed control, and blind-spot awareness.
- Invest in regular maintenance of plants and machinery. A thorough inspection should include cleaning, part replacements, calibration checks, and electrical inspections. You must also maintain and update logs, as well as conduct timely audits.
- Invest in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). For example, in your factory, welders are required to wear face shields, fire-resistant gloves, and aprons. Workers on construction sites must have helmets, safety boots, and high-visibility jackets.
- Ensure your premises have proper ventilation, as closed workspaces can result in the build-up of toxic fumes, excessive heat, and dust. Additionally, designate a separate area for tasks such as welding, painting, and chemical handling.
Role of workmen's compensation insurance
Having workmen's compensation insurance or a group personal accident insurance is important if you run a factory or facility. Here is why.
- If your employee sustains an injury due to an accident during employment, regardless of whether the accident occurs on the premises or while carrying out a work-related duty off-site, the insurer will cover the medical expenses.
- If your employee is temporarily unavailable to work due to a job-related injury, the insurance provides wage replacement until the person is fit to return to work.
- Workmen’s Compensation Insurance protects you as an employer against legal claims made by your injured workers or their families. It covers lawyer’s fees, court charges, and any settlement or compensation ordered by the court.
- If your employee dies due to a work-related accident or disease, Workmen’s Compensation Insurance provides a death benefit to the legal dependents. The amount is calculated based on the deceased’s monthly wages and a factor fixed under the relevant law.
Conclusion
Preventing industrial accidents requires a multi-faceted approach. You need to train your workers on safe practices, maintain machinery rigorously, provide adequate PPE, and ensure proper ventilation. Additionally, investing in Workmen's Compensation Insurance safeguards both workers and employers, covering medical expenses, wage replacements, legal fees, and death benefits.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. Please read the sales brochure / policy wordings carefully for detailed information about on risk factors, terms, conditions and exclusions. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.