New reports highlight hazards at government jobsites, including slips and falls (with related video)

The government workplace can be dangerous sometimes. A total of 920,000 medically consulted injuries took place in 2014 in government worksites, according to data from the National Safety Council’s (NSC) “Injury Facts 2016 Edition.” Governments reported more unintentional injuries at the jobsite than any other industry sector, say NSC analysts.

Postal workers and highway and utility construction crews are job/industry categories that are among leaders in prevalence of severe injuries, according to a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) analysis.

The study, “Year One of OSHA’s Severe Injury Reporting Program: An Impact Evaluation,” listed those categories among the top 25 among industry groups reporting severe injuries.

Slips and falls can be dangerous in the government workplace, says Anne Gould, the founder of STABILgear. The Biddeford, Maine-based company has manufactured traction footwear for nearly three decades. The firm is a U.S. Postal Service-approved provider and a federal GSA contractor. Gould’s photo is below on the left.

“Sure footing is important in large part due to the costs, especially considering an injury really is disruptive to the government organization, the employee and those who work with the employee,” says Gould. She adds that traction solutions are necessary to avoid risk on the job.

“STABILgear products keep everyone on their feet in ice and snow, and indoors on oil, soap and wet surfaces,” adds Gould. She says her firm’s product line prevents lost productivity and business, holds down the cost of insurance premiums and helps government organizations avoid costs of replacing injured workers.

Gould offers some statistics on workplace injuries that apply to both government workers as well as private industry staffers:

-85 percent of workers’ compensation claims are associated with slips and falls
-The annual U.S. medical cost of employees injured by slips and falls is $70 billion
-An employee is out of work due to slip and fall accidents for an average of 31 days.
-The average cost per injury incident is almost $30,000, versus $20 -$50 for a pair of STABILgear products.

In the video, see how the STABILicers Maxx cleat assembly offers traction in icy conditions. The product is suited for postal carriers and police officers.

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