During 2012, the campus had a reduction in the number of total reported workplace incidents/injuries, according to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). In an effort to continue this trend for 2013, the office has compiled a number of injury-related facts and prevention resources.
In 2012, 60 percent of all workplace injuries resulted from a lack of awareness of surroundings or job hazards, and 47 percent of injuries occurred on a Monday or Thursday. EH&S offers classroom and online injury prevention safety training on a variety of topics, such as winter weather, slips, trips, falls, ergonomics and lifting safety. Supervisors should consider conducting safety training on Monday or Thursday; training worksheets are online.
Forty-one percent of all workplace injuries resulted in a strain or sprain due to ergonomic use of the body. Also, 25 percent of all workplace injuries resulted from being struck (falling/flying objects, vehicles, etc.). The EH&S Office can conduct a safety risk assessment of job tasks, and personnel can assist in identifying building hazards. Email ehsoffice@uncc.edu or call 704-687-1111.
January often is a month for winter weather slips, trips and fall injuries; consult the EH&S one-page winter weather safety fact sheet for tips on staying safe at work.
In the event a workplace incident/injury does occur, the employee should notify his/her supervisor immediately. The EH&S Office has designed employee incident and supervisor investigation reporting forms to facilitate the written communication and follow up required after each incident. The forms can be accessed on the Web. If medical treatment is necessary, the injured worker should be escorted to the Student Health Center. For life-threatening injuries, contact Police and Public Safety Department to dispatch emergency assistance.