Breathing in minute crystalline silica particles can cause multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Employees who work in occupations with silica exposure are also susceptible to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. These diseases are life-altering and debilitating disorders that annually affect thousands of workers across the United States.

One in ten Americans has a type of hearing loss that affects his or her ability to understand normal speech. Excessive noise exposure on the job is the most common cause of hearing loss. Some workers with long-term hearing loss have developed ways of adapting to the gradual onset of the disease, but the chronic effects of noise are real and can be devastating. The important thing is that regardless of your present level of hearing loss, it is never too late or too hard to prevent further damage. Workers who already have serious hearing loss have an even greater reason for saving the hearing they have left.

When you know how injuries occur in the workplace, you can put in place prevention measures. The most common hazards are from chemicals, fires, repetitive motion, electricity and fall related injuries. Keeping your employees safe can ensure a happier, more productive workplace. Build safety policies that address the specific hazards in your workplace.

As we go through our days, we all miss several common mistakes simply because we are not paying attention, or we are too busy with other things. Below are five common mistakes that companies make for one reason or another but that would pay big dividends if followed.