OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES

 

Occupational injuries are injuries that occur as a result of specific accidents on the job. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an occupational injury is any personal injury, disease, or death resulting from an accident that occurs during work or is work-related. The date and cause of such accidents can usually be determined with precision.

Common injuries among health workers while working are slips, trips and falls, road traffic injuries (ambulance crashes, motorbike and bicycle injuries), electric shock, explosions and fire.

 

                               

Contributing factors:

• Wet floors, spills, and clutter -> may cause slips, trips and falls.
• Poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate operator training and lack of safety restraint contribute to ambulance crashes.
• Unsafe electric work practices may cause electric shock, electrocutions, fire and explosions.

 

Preventive measures:

Slips, trips and falls

• Ensure access to and use of slip resistant shoes
• Install slip-resistant flooring and increase floor cleaning frequency
• Eliminate tripping hazards in work areas.
• Ensure safe railings for stairs and heights.
• Support older workers to participate in falls prevention activities.

 

Road traffic injuries

• Adopt safe work practices e.g., use of seat belts, prohibiting mobile phone use while driving, wearing helmets when riding motorbikes and bicycles etc.
• Set speed limits for vehicles according to regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement a system for recording and investigating incidents.
• Employ competent drivers and conduct regular driving competency and medical fitness tests
• Maintain vehicles in good condition
• Consider good driver access or visibility when purchasing or deploying vehicles

 

Electrical injuries

• Train workers on safe use of electrical equipment
• Ensure availability of enough sockets to avoid overloading socket outlets
• Remove trailing cables that may cause trips or falls
• Switch off and unplug appliances before cleaning or adjusting them
• Check for signs of dangers from electricity before using electrical equipment
• All electrical work should be done by a competent person
• Stop using faulty equipment immediately and have it checked by a competent person
• Ensure all electrical equipment are suitable for use before using them
• Consider using a residual current device to reduce the risk of electric shock

 

In conclusion, preventing these injuries requires effective safety strategies, strong workplace safety cultures, and continued investment in safety training, proper equipment, and policy enforcement. Ultimately, protecting workers from occupational hazards not only safeguards their health but also ensures a more productive and sustainable workforce.

 

 

Reference: https://www.who.int/tools/occupational-hazards-in-health-sector

Disediakan oleh:

Dr Siti Noor Azlidah Binti Ali

Doktor Kesihatan Pekerjaan

11 November 2025

Date of Input: 19/11/2025 | Updated: 19/11/2025 | izzatussofia