Brain Injury Awareness Month: A Time to Think Proactively

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, an initiative to support those living with permanent brain damage and to establish safer practices.

Understanding how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur can help us take precautions and prevent major accidents.

How Can We Prevent Brain Injuries at Home?

TBIs are most commonly caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries.

Falls

Millions of Americans are treated for fall-related injuries every year. Minor home improvements can go a long way to prevent potentially life-threatening or life-altering falls:

• Clearing clutter, especially off the floor, can prevent trips.
• Assist the elderly up and down the stairs, as they are especially vulnerable to falls.
• A regular strength workout routine will make falls less likely and hazardous.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Nearly half of all TBIs are caused by car- and motorcycle-accidents. The following methods can help us stay safe on the road:

• Avoid distractions with hands-free devices.
• Defensive driving courses can teach you how to handle aggressive drivers safely.

Sports Injuries

Sports accidents can cause major brain damage without the proper safeguards:

• Always wear the proper equipment; headgear is especially important.
• If you feel any symptoms of a TBI, such as headaches or dizziness, stop playing and consult a doctor.

How Can We Prevent Brain Injuries at Work?

Work-related TBIs are often the result of falls, falling objects, and slips.

Falls

Many workers operate from dangerous heights, so the following safeguards are crucial:

• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is always crucial.
• Maintain at least three points of contact when moving on a ladder.
• A strong safety program will detect weak or absent safeguards before a fall occurs.

Foreign Objects

Falling debris, moving equipment, and rolling objects can seriously concuss workers. Consider the following preventative measures:

• PPE doesn’t make workers immune to foreign objects, but it can reduce the severity of a brain injury.
• Strategic human engineering will be more effective than a change to the training program. Learn more about the Safeguard Hierarchy here.

Slips

Seemingly minor hazards can cause major injuries if left unchecked. Be sure to look into:

• Slippery surfaces, such as wet or waxed floors, should be minimized and clearly communicated during operational hours.
• Uneven terrain (cracks, holes, tears, et. cetera) could cause someone to fall.
• Improper housekeeping can create a hazard for workers.

Preventing Brain Injuries Systematically

While we can tell operators to “be more careful”, systematic improvements will always be more effective in reducing brain injuries and other workplace accidents.

Strengthen your safety protocols with a robust root cause analysis program. Sign up for a free executive briefing with us to learn more.