Mississippi Worker Safety Slips

June 1st, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Mississippi worker safety is the concern of employers and employees alike. Getting hurt on the job can not only cause employees pain, it also can lead to missed time at work, medical bills, the loss of wages, and even lawsuits. Getting hurt at work is bad for employees and employers alike, but accidents in the workplace aren’t rare.

Millions of injuries that happen to employees in Mississippi and throughout the country are investigated each year by the U.S. Occupational and Health Administration also know as OSHA. Across the nation in 2005, the total number of reported work-related accidents was 4,214,200.

Because of workplace accidents, 5,702 employees died. In addition, 1,234,700 workdays were lost become of workplace accidents. These numbers do not include accidents that involved government employees, such as paramedics, firefighters, and police. In addition, any accidents that affected employees of non-profit organizations were not included in these statistics.

The 2005 statistics concerning Mississippi worker safety note that 503,503 workers experienced strains, tears, and sprains on the job. Back injuries accounted for 270,890 injuries. In addition, the number of people who fell at work totaled 255,750.

Workplace safety in Mississippi is overseen by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA works to protect employees in the workplace. Slips, trips, and falls are more than simple annoyances. They are very common and are the second most common cause of workplace fatalities. In 2005, statistics show that following a workplace accident involving a fall, 732 people died. Accidents involving driving are the only other type of accident to result in more deaths. Statistics show that work-related driving accidents resulted in 1,258 deaths.

Keeping the workplace safe is vital to both employees and employers. The key to a safety program designed to protect employees is education. Employers should remind employees how important it is to be safety conscious. Part of this education should include instructing employees on the proper safety techniques and procedures to follow. 

No Comments >> Posted in Compliance Issues,Employer Requirements,Labor Law Regulations,Mississippi

Mississippi Highway Worker Safety

June 1st, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Mississippi highway worker safety is something all drivers should focus on. Many highway workers are killed each year. In addition, 20,000 highway workers are injured while working on street and highway construction projects.

To help protect highway workers, OSHA has picked the first week in April each year to be the National Work Zone Awareness Week. The campaign this year, “Signs for Change,” works to remind drivers that they not only need to slow down in the safety zones set up for highway workers, but they also need to use caution in these zones.

According to Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, “Employees who work in highway zones have one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States and these employees need not only OSHA’s support, but the support of everyone who gets behind the wheel on a daily basis.” He added, “There were nearly 1,100 work zone fatalities last year — that is a tragedy. I am hopeful that campaigns like this will help reduce those numbers.”

To help promote the need for awareness of the safety zones used by highway workers, an alliance has been formed between the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners Alliance and OSHA. Both of these organizations will work to raise awareness of the safety zones for highway workers. Moreover, these two organizations will bring to light the health issues that highway workers face.

This year on April 3, a kickoff for this program was held. Held at a highway construction site, the kickoff took place in Alexandria, Virginia on Interstate 495.

Highway workers face the very real danger of being struck by a car, truck, or piece of construction equipment. To increase driver awareness of highway construction workers, OSHA recommends that all highway workers wear vests that are highly visible and reflective. Since the main cause of death to highway workers in the US is acute trauma that happens at work, getting drivers to slow down and pay attention to warning signs in work areas is vital.

No Comments >> Posted in Compliance Issues,Employer Requirements,Labor Law Regulations,Mississippi