Communication issues can directly lead to injuries in the workplace. They can cause oversights and mistakes that would not occur otherwise.
Exactly how this happens is unique from one situation to the next. Let’s consider a few ways that communication problems could put an employee in the hospital.
Making assumptions
In some cases, assumptions are made that put someone directly in harm’s way. Someone may be operating heavy equipment on a construction site, for example. They assume that no one is walking behind the equipment while it is in operation. Meanwhile, an employee who is behind the equipment assumes that they have already been seen and that the operator will wait for them.
Inconsistent communication
Whether using hand signals or verbal communication, inconsistencies can lead to mistakes. If one employee waves their hand to tell another to wait while they are driving a vehicle, but that employee thinks that it is a hand signal meaning it is safe for them to proceed, someone could be seriously injured.
A loud workplace
One significant issue is that many construction sites are loud and relatively chaotic workplaces. It may be difficult for workers to hear, even at a yell. Some workers may be wearing earplugs, earmuffs or other types of ear protection. This can lead to a scenario where one employee does communicate something to another and then assumes they have the information needed to work safely, but that person never heard them in the first place.
Serious workplace injuries can lead to high medical bills, lost wages and more. Injured parties need to know how to seek workers’ comp benefits.