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I know that some of the most common accidents are, tripping and/or falling over something, repetitive lifting causing muscle strains, and driving accidents for companies like UPS, FedEx, and the USPS. For it to be considered a work-related accident it must have happened at work, on company property, or while completing work for the employer while off-site.

Work related illnesses could be from something simple like repetitive typing on a keyboard by someone who sits at a desk for 8-hours and they get carpel tunnel. It could also be from inhaling something toxic causing you to get sick and need medical attention, or touching something that can lead to you getting poisoned.

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What I would like to know or learn about is if there is a difference between work-related accidents and how workers comp plays into it, if the way you got hurt matters or the severity of it, as I have never dealt with workers comp in the military it would be beneficial to know for when I retire. Also if work-related accidents and/or illnesses can contribute to a monthly disability pay somehow? For example, if you got carpel tunnel syndrome from working at Apple, sitting in front of a computer typing for 8 hours a day 5 days a week could be a contributing factor, would they compensate you for that if you no longer were able to complete you daily duties at Apple.

Also what is the exact difference between worker-comp is and short-term disability, if there is one, and if there is are you entitled to both of them, if not I would like to learn of the two what covers what.

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What I know is that each job comes with different work related illnesses and injuries. In my previous job proper lifting and and HAZMAT were workplace hazards that could have caused serious injury or death. In my current role the biggest workplace hazard I have to contend with is ergonomics of my desk setup. This goes to show that there are various types and levels of workplace hazards.

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What I want to know is how companies decide what is OSHA recordable and what is just an accident that isn't OSHA recordable. I also, would like to know if some places cover up accidents to make it look like they have a better accident record than they actually do.

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I know that some of the most common causes of workplace accidents are improper lifting, poor lighting, mental distractions, trips/falls, and poor housekeeping.  Some of the most common causes of workplace illnesses are performing the same types of work activities day-in and day-out, such as typing (carpal tunnel syndrome).  Working in the same position for hours on end and improper lifting (slipped discs and back injuries).  Slippery surfaces not being properly marked and clutter accumulating in high-traffic areas (sprains, strains, and fractures).

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I want to learn more about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and its guidelines that regulates safety in the workplace.  How and when accidents should be reported, and the mandated safety measures that should be in place at an organization.  Such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) requirements.

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Work related injuries, from my experience, are commonly caused by employees just tying to get the job done. It is easier and faster to bypass some of the safety procedures and not use the safety equipment. Safety gloves can often make it harder to move your hands and therefore the job cannot get done. Face masks and eye wear can also impede vision and make it more difficult to get the task accomplished well.
As far as work related illness, I have had limited experience. To avoid pink-eye signs are commonly posted for employees to wash hands. Other than that, employers want employees at work regardless if they are sick. Any excuse for being sick must have a doctors note. This is spreads disease!

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I have already experienced workers compensation and the long process to utilize it, what I don't know much about is the illness part of this weeks material. I know calling out sick is hard to prove without a doctors note, but to me that means companies should jump forward on re-mote locations for employees. They cant really call out sick if they are already at home. So, what I would like to learn is the regulations regarding when an employee does not have to report illness or health problems and if they can be punished for it.

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I have a lot of knowledge when it comes to knowing what causes work-related accidents and illnesses. They are usually caused by improper use or lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Lack of proper skills or training, poor housekeeping, carelessness, and cutting corners by not following proper procedures are also other factors for causing work related accidents or illnesses. PPE is worn to minimize exposures, and people need to know what kind of PPE to use and when to use it ("UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR", n.d.).
References

(n.d.). UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/

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I am interested in learning more and researching topics on how the United States compares to other parts of the world with respect to work-related accidents and illnesses. I am interested in the statistical data involved. I'm curious to find out how well the United States ranks compared to other parts of the world in fostering a safe work environment free of injuries and illness. In China, approximately six million workers are suffering from respiratory illnesses caused by dust exposure and poor working conditions. It ranks highly as one of the worst countries in the world for worker safety and health ("These 6 countries are among the worst in the world for workers", n.d.).
References

(n.d.). These 6 countries are among the worst in the world for workers. Retrieved from https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-06-13/these-6-countries-are-among-worst-world-workers

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Identifying what can cause work-related accidents and illnesses.
There are infinite possibilities for something to go wrong. lifting heavy objects, or poor lighting can be a major cause of trips, falls; slippery floors, improper footwear, rushing employees, and weather conditions all contribute to trip and fall hazards. Workplace violence-  OSHA has guidelines for violence prevention if you need help resolving these issues in your workplace. physical and mental stress are less commonly recognized workplace hazards, but they can cause serious or even fatal accidents. It is always good to set up a refresher training to reduce the risk of injuries and improve overall performance in your organization. Better safe than sorry, as they say.

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I wanted to learn some different ways to find solutions to prevent work-related accidents and illnesses.  So here are some tips I think are going to be very helpful.

1. Incorporate a safety and wellness plan.

2. Conduct pre-placement physicals.

3. Educate employees and management staff.

4. Research safety vulnerabilities.

5. Provide protection equipment.

6. Have adequate staffing levels. .

7. Don't take shortcuts.

8. Inspect and maintain all company vehicles.

9. Monitor safety measures.

10. Keep an orderly workplace.

A single workplace accident can leave a big impact on your business. Between the medical bills, the lost productivity, all the workers' compensation paperwork, and the low morale, the costs are high.

Reference
https://www.concentra.com/resource-center/articles/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-injuries/

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Work-related accidents and illnesses from my experience can come in many various ways. I worked hand-in-hand with millions of parts for an aircraft. Work-related accidents can simply come by not using proper footwear (steel-toe boots) or cutting your fingers or hands by not using gloves. Work-related accidents also relate to working individually. Some parts are heavier than one expects, and majority of the times parts are underestimated and can cause back pains if not getting assistance from a co-worker. Illnesses comes from simply sanitization. Oil and grease may get on hands and clothes at times, which can cause for some irritation to skin or allergies. By staying clean and sanitized can help prevent any illnesses.

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When to comes to work-related accidents, I'd like to learn and research on how companies can really get this topic across the organization. I strongly believe that work-related accidents (depending on work environment) is one of the major topics organizations need in order to prevent any harm or accidents to employees.

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This week I have learned that OSHA has a set of laws that all organizations should adhere to, and performs inspections to ensure those laws are being followed.  OSHA provides employers with a decision tree to help determine if an injury or illness should be recorded or not.  Safety data sheets should be provided to employees for all chemical used, letting them know the chemical components, health risks of the substance, how to handle the material safely, and how to administer first aid in the case of an accident.

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This week I focused on learning what I wanted to learn in the previous column. I learned that OSHA has a set of guidelines that companies must follow and determine what is and is not an OSHA recordable incident. I also looked into whether companies try to cover up incidents to boost their standing and safety records. I found that some companies have done this and in some cases were caught and had to pay fines. I also feel this is an ethical issue with the higher command within the company to find it ok to cover up safety incidents.

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In this week's module I learned how stress due to workplace bullying is quite common and can lead into more serious mental and physical illnesses. I also learned that to have a workplace free of work-related accidents, the company should promote a health and safety policy. With a policy in place, it fosters a safe culture for the working environment and lessens the chances of work-related accidents (Human Resource, 2016).
References
Human Resource Management. (2016). [ University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing]. doi: ISBN 13: 9781946135117

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There is a lot of literature on workplace injury and sickness. While working on the bibliography, I came across quite a bit of research that focused on the effects of reporting workplace injuries for companies and causes for taking extended sick absences.
Another problem seemed to circle around businesses needing the money to invest in workplace safety to make it a way or life not a policy. This of course is a secret investment where it is difficult to see its progress, but you can feel the wake when it does not work.  Companies also prefer employees not to report injuries (of course not having them is best) due to financial and shareholder stock declines (Kabir, 2018). .
I was very shocked to find that mental health disorders are one of the leading causes for prolonged sick leave (Finnes, 2019). Bullying was another reason. Apparently females take sick leave when bullied, while men quite the job (Mundjerg, 2016).

Reference
Finnes, A., Ghaderi, A., Dahl, J., Nager, A., & Enebrink, P. (2019). Randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and a workplace intervention for sickness absence due to mental disorders. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 24(1), 198-212. doi:10.1037/ocp0000097

Kabir, Q. S., Watson, K., & Somaratna, T. (2018). Workplace safety events and firm performance. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 29(1), 104-120. doi:10.1108/JMTM-07-2017-0133

Mundbjerg Eriksen, T. L., Hogh, A., & Hansen, Å. M. (2016). Long-term consequences of workplace bullying on sickness absence. Labour Economics, 43, 129-150. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2016.06.008

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I have learned that following OHSA type regulations are very important not only for the organization, but more importantly the employees. In the article "When it comes to providing respiratory protection to workers, manufacturers must comply with specific health and safety regulations" (Bidwell, 1997).
I have also learned that there are free services that exist, in order to test and evaluate health and illness prevention. In the article "The program analyzes workplace hazards, illnesses from unknown sources, and biological and chemical exposures that are not OHSA-regulated" (Free service, 2010).

References

Bidwell, J. (1997). Matching worker safety with workplace hazards. Industrial Paint & Powder, 73(1), 16.

Free service helps eliminate workplace health hazards. (2010). Professional Safety, 55(5), 29.

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There is a difference between workers-comp and short-term disability. Workers-comp is mandated by law and is enforced in every state, however, each state has various requirements and vary slightly from one another such as, industry, size of business and payroll (National Federation of Independent Business, 2017). Workers-comp is used for when an employee gets injured on the job. Short-term disability is not mandated by law and it is usually paid for by you as the employee for this policy. Short-term disability is typically a medical condition which leaves you unable to work, usually 12 weeks or less, when applying for STD employees are required to use any sick or annual leave before becoming eligible for STD (Lewane, 2019).

“Workers’ compensation pays for permanent disability for hand and wrist injuries on an impairment basis for single member claims” (Rehm, 2019). The length of time you can be on workers-comp depends on the severity of your injury, temporary disability you can receive up to a maximum of 104 weeks, and permanent disability you can receive payments up to 70% of your pay for the rest of your life (Gerald Brody & Associates, 2018). The temporary disability prevents employees from getting a free ride if they are able to go back to work.

References

Gerald Brody & Associates. (2018, April 25). How long can you be out on workers compensation? Retrieved from https://www.geraldbrodylaw.com/blog/how-long-workers-compensation

Lewane, M. (2019). Short-Term Disability vs. Workers’ Compensation Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.injuredworkerslawfirm.com/blogs/the-short-term-disabilityworkers-comp-dilemma/

National Federation of Independent Business. (2017, June 7). Workers' Compensation Laws - State by State Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.nfib.com/content/legal-compliance/legal/workers-compensation-laws-state-by-state-comparison-57181/

Rehm, J. (2019). Claiming workers’ comp, when short-term disability has paid for time off because of a work injury. Lincoln: Newstex. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/2252904034?accountid=27203

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As I reflect on this weeks studies on the causes of work-related accidents and illnesses at work. I am reminded of some simple steps to help prevent accidents.
1.  Keep Work spaces Clean
2. Post Proper Signage
3. Stay up to date on vehicle Maintenance if your company owns a vehicle
4. Report dangers and accidents as they may come about
5. Provide Proper Training
6. Provide Proper Equipment
7. Avoid Shortcuts- Many times accidents happen not because the safety precautions are unknown but because people take short cuts when they're familiar with their job or are in a hurry.
I believe we have become a more intelligent working class society by reporting accidents and illnesses and learning from them.
The number of workplace accidents has decreased by 25% over the last 10 years. However, work-related diseases still account for an estimated 2.4 million deaths worldwide each year, 200,000 of which are in Europe.
Reference:
https://osha.europa.eu/en/themes/work-related-diseases