Workers in Colorado who use heavy machinery in their jobs should be trained on safety procedures. Heavy machinery can cause severe injuries including amputations, burns, and crushed hands and fingers. However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducts research in two laboratories to study ways that machinery used in agriculture, transportation, construction and other fields can be made safer.
Falling on the job
Falling on the job is a serious problem for workers in Colorado and around the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 605 workers that died in 2009 as a result of a workplace fall. During that year, more than 212,00 workers were seriously injured after falling on the job. The resulting costs of medical care and workers' compensation claims related to falls are in the billions of dollars each year.
The dangers associated with construction zones on roadways
Whenever work zones are implemented on Colorado roadways, the alteration to traffic conditions from lane changes and signs can be dangerous to both motorists and employees who are repairing and building the road. New procedures established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health seek to prevent construction-related fatalities and injuries.
OSHA implements new rules on workplace accidents
Colorado workplace accidents can leave employees unable to work for several days or much longer. In cases that lead to serious injuries or deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate and determine whether employers are at fault. OSHA recently announced new regulations and standards that employers must follow.
Toxic skin exposure problems
While many Colorado companies take steps to protect workers from inhalation injuries from working with toxic substances, some do not take the same measures to prevent workplace skin exposures. Over time, skin exposure can lead to systemic toxicity, or poisoning spreading throughout the body, or to many other types of occupational diseases and disorders.
