Brain injuries at work are one of the leading causes of disability and death in the US. Employers have a duty to ensure that the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is minimized.
With 2.8 million people suffering a TBI every single year, action has to be taken to keep these scenarios from happening.
We spoke with various people whose work is based on dealing with people who have suffered these injuries, to offer advice on how to avoid them and what to should you be the unfortunate sufferer of such an incident.
Types of Brain Injuries in the Workplace
Information we received from the various experts like health care professionals and support workers we talked to, explains just some of the most common types of brain injuries experienced in the workplace every day:
Coup-Contrecoup – This brain injury is when a major impact hits the head and the brain is forced into the other side of the skull. These brain injuries are most often experienced in motor vehicle accidents.
Concussion – The most common mild traumatic brain injury of all is a concussion. This is usually caused by a sudden blow to the head causing the brain to shake as it’s forced in the opposite direction.
Brain Contusion – This is essentially a brain bruise. Often seen in combination with a concussion.
Second Impact Syndrome – Second impact syndrome is a second brain injury after the first. Most often seen in sports, these can kill.
Shaken Baby Syndrome – These brain injuries cause broken blood vessels and hemorrhaging. They’re most common in babies if they’re shaken by parents.
How to Avoid Brain Injuries at Work
We know that TBIs contribute to 30% of all injury-related deaths in the US today. Avoidance is essential to reducing these numbers. Much of the burden has to be placed on employers because the legal and human repercussions can be huge. It is strongly advised that anyone who suffers a brain injury at work should seek out help from reputable brain injury lawyers as soon as they can after treatment. This is mainly to help with the various expenses that can be associated with their healthcare and any ongoing living costs.
So how can you go about avoiding brain injuries at work?
The first step is to provide proper training. Those who are in dangerous work areas should have full training before they’re able to venture into the area. Many accidents happen when the untrained are involved.
The next step is to offer full safety equipment. In the event that something does happen, protective gear can mean the difference between a few weeks in the hospital and permanent disability and death.
Finally, you should consult with a health and safety professional to perform regular inspections of dangerous work sites. They can advise on the procedures you can implement to maximize safety and avoid falling foul of the law.
What are the Consequences of TBI to Businesses?
Our feedback said that disability and death are one thing but remember that the employer is fully liable for ongoing medical costs and sticking to the law.
He recommends that you have a comprehensive insurance policy that covers the worst case scenario. Always plan for the worst because sometimes accidents do happen and they’re not your fault.
The worst may never occur, but if it does you need to be fully prepared to face it.
Last Word – TBI is No Joke
TBIs can be fatal. Yet so many of them are entirely preventable by planning a workspace with safety in mind. Always think about what could happen if something goes wrong.
Have you implemented modern, updated safety regulations at work?