| Injuries at work are a common occurrence | | | | First-Aid, and Hazard Communication |
| and on average, two-four people are | | | | Program. |
| seriously injured at work in each state. | | | | It is important that in every workplace |
| Some even lose their lives. Each year, | | | | there are manuals on prevention of work |
| thousands of workers file compensation | | | | related injuries. These should include |
| claims for work related injuries and | | | | materials for respiratory protection for |
| illnesses Medical care and wage | | | | those who work with dust, eye and face |
| replacement for these injured workers | | | | protection for those who work in the |
| amounts to billions of dollars annually. | | | | presence of fumes and chemicals and |
| The indirect costs to the worker are | | | | hearing protection for those who work in |
| even larger. Some may be permanently | | | | conditions of loud noise. There should |
| injured, others may have a poor quality | | | | be a monitoring system implemented to |
| of life, others may go bankrupt and the | | | | sample the sound intensity and duration. |
| business may close. To prevent work | | | | In any work environment, hazard |
| related injuries, there is a great | | | | communications is essential. Accident |
| effort by the Occupation Safety and | | | | prevention signs or symbols should be |
| Health Association (OHSA) in preventing | | | | placed and hazardous areas should be |
| work related injuries. OSHA has put | | | | marked as such. In any working |
| forward numerous rules, polices and | | | | environment where there is a potential |
| regulations and strictly enforces these | | | | for injury, the employees must know CPR |
| polices. While all the polices are too | | | | and First aid training. In the absence |
| numerous to mention, there is a certain | | | | of a health care facility within a few |
| onus on the employer and the employee to | | | | minutes of the work place, it is |
| use common sense and judgment at work. A | | | | essential that there be someone who can |
| safe and health environment is of | | | | administer first aid. |
| benefit to both parties. | | | | And last but not least, if possible the |
| The basic foundations to a safe and | | | | employer should provide for |
| healthy environment should include a | | | | ergonomically designed furniture to |
| program for accident prevention, | | | | prevent injuries from sitting on cramped |
| Personal Protective Equipment, | | | | chairs and working on the computer. |