Head injuries are often associated with brain injuries. It is imperative that everyone takes steps that can minimize the risk of these injuries occurring. This is especially true in the workplace, where hazards might abound.
There are a few different ways that companies can try to reduce the risk of workers suffering a head injury. One of these is to provide proper head protection. For some companies, this will require having to offer various forms of protection. One common challenge when providing head protection for workers is ensuring that you have adequate options for workers who need to wear glasses or hearing aids.
Some protective equipment for the head will require eye protection. If this is the case, the eye protection should be suitable for the lighting involved with the job site. This could mean that lighter protective gear is needed for dark environments.
Another thing to think about when grabbing safety gear is the presence of electrical shocks around the work site. When you are working around electrical currents, the head protection you wear should reduce electrical shock.
Falling objects pose a risk in many industries, including construction and manufacturing. When this is a hazard at the job site, the workers should have head protection that can help to reduce the impact of a falling object. Hard hats are one of the primary pieces of gear that can do this — if the hard hat is properly fitted.
If you do suffer a head injury at work, you need to report the injury and get medical care. These injuries can be very serious. In some cases, you might require time off of work and may have to file for workers’ compensation benefits.
Source: Occupational Health & Safety, “Preventing Occupational and Non-Occupational Head Injuries,” Jerry Laws, accessed Oct. 05, 2017