Laceration Risks in the Recycling Industry
As they sort and recycle products like cans, metals, and bottles, your workers in the recycling industry are at a high risk of lacerations. Lacerations are deep cuts or tears in the skin, which can result from a variety of workplace accidents.
In the recycling industry, some common causes of lacerations include:
- Sharp objects. In their role, recycling workers might often come into contact with sharp objects, such as broken bottles, glass, or metal fragments. If hazards like these are not properly handled, they can cause lacerations.
- Sorting and cutting equipment. To sort recycled products, workers might use machinery like balers, shredders, and conveyor belts. If equipment like this is improperly used or inadequately maintained, it can lead to lacerations and other injuries.
- Wires and cables. Sometimes, recycling workers might come across items like wires, cables, and cords. If they have frayed ends or sharp edges, they can cause injuries if improperly handled.
When a recycling worker suffers from a laceration due to risks like these, they may experience minor and treatable injuries. However, lacerations can also lead to more serious issues, including:
- Blood loss
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic amputations
- Permanent scarring
- Infections, like tetanus
Protecting Your Recycling Employees from Laceration Risks
As a business owner, it’s up to you to take steps to prevent laceration injuries at your recycling industry business. One simple way to protect your employees is safety training. Make sure all your employees, including any temporary employees, are properly trained on all aspects of their role. This includes guidelines on operating machinery and handling potentially hazardous items, like frayed cords or broken glass.
Along with training your employees, you should also make sure they have the necessary personal protective equipment, or PPE. In the recycling industry, common PPE includes cut-resistant gloves, goggles, and steel-toed boots to prevent lacerations injuries.
As a business owner in the recycling industry, it’s also important to keep up with risk management, or the process of identifying, mitigating, and preventing common laceration risks and other common risks.
Finally, protect your recycling workers by offering strong Workers’ Compensation coverage. With the right coverage, you can help your employees find care and relief after a laceration or other serious injury. When an injury occurs, having coverage also protects your business from complex liability issues.
Finding Extra Help
It can be difficult to keep up with responsibilities like safety training, risk management, and Workers’ Compensation. At Work Comp Business Insurance Solutions, we understand the challenges faced by business owners in the recycling industry. We offer a variety of services to help business owners protect their business and employees, including HR support, risk management, and assistance with finding comprehensive Workers’ Compensation coverage.
At Work Comp Business Insurance Solutions, we help business owners find the best Workers’ Compensation and payroll solutions.To learn more about our services and how we can help your business, visit us online at https://www.wcbis.com.
