The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) has stated that workplace accidents occur due to various overlooked safety issues. These issues can be classified into two categories: human factors and environmental factors. Human factors include negligence, fatigue, stress, and a lack of training. On the other hand, environmental factors comprise poor lighting, ventilation, and housekeeping. Niosh, an organization that offers training and services related to occupational safety and health, also points out inadequate supervision, communication, and safety culture as other contributing factors to workplace accidents.
Looking at the statistics, the highest number of occupational injuries was recorded in 2013, with a total of 43,795 cases. This was followed by 42,513 cases in 2017 and 41,504 cases in 2012. Conversely, the lowest number of incidents was observed in 2021, with a total of 21,535 cases. However, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, there were 32,674 recorded cases of occupational injuries.
When analyzing workplace accidents by sector, the manufacturing industry had the highest number of cases in 2022, with a total of 5,244 incidents. The services sector ranked second with 1,035 cases, followed by the transport, storage, and communication sector with 266 cases. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector recorded 256 cases, while the finance, insurance, and business services sector had 99 cases. The mining and quarrying sector suffered 77 cases, and the utilities sector had 74 incidents. The wholesale, retail, and trade sector reported 44 cases, while the construction sector had 29. Lastly, the hotels and restaurants sector experienced 19 cases of workplace accidents.
Overall, Niosh emphasizes the importance of addressing these safety issues to prevent workplace accidents. By focusing on human factors, environmental factors, supervision, communication, and safety culture, organizations can create a safer working environment for their employees.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
