Every day in the U.S., there are thousands of people that get injured at work. Workplace injuries are often painful and expensive, resulting in several lost working hours and costly medical bills. Unfortunately, even with the most efficient safety procedures in place, there is a risk of getting injured on the job. Workplace accidents vary in severity, can involve the employees, equipment, or the workplace environment. The better your understanding of the different types of on-the-job injuries, the better your chances are of avoiding them and possibly receiving compensation if a workplace injury happens. Here are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
One of the most common causes of workplace accidents is slips, trips, and falls. These types of accidents are also responsible for about 15% of accidental deaths. A slip happens you’re your footwear comes in contact with a slippery surface that you are walking on. Some of the most common causes of slip and falls are wet floors, spilled items, and rugs/floor mats. A trip happens when feet come in contact with an object, which causes loss of balance, and you fall. Trips and falls are often caused by poor lighting, clutter on the floor, and an uneven walking surface. Whether the trip and fall or slip and fall occur on a wet floor indoors or an icy parking lot, these types of injuries can lead to serious injuries, including damage to the spinal cord, broken bones, or brain injuries.
Falling Objects
If you are injured from an object that falls from above you, there may be significant damage, including brain injury or even possibly death. Objects that are above the areas where employees are working can come loose from the building structure, pallets, and even from other employees accidentally dropping the item. Unfortunately, these objects can cause serious injuries to anyone that is on target. If you are injured by a falling object, it is important to have the injury checked by a medical professional, regardless of how minor the injury may seem, especially if it is a head, neck, or back injury.
Falls from Height
Falls from height are also common workplace accidents that can lead to extremely serious injuries, possibly even death. There are many reasons why falls from heights may occur, such as lack of railing on stairways or other faulty structures, lack of or old equipment, or negligence, such as an employee not using the appropriate safety equipment or not using safety equipment properly. It is extremely important for employees to undergo the appropriate safety education as well as have access to the correct safety equipment and protection. Falls from height are one of the most dangerous, potentially fatal types of accidents in the workplace. Falling from a height can result in a vast array of injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, brain trauma, and death. If you have been injured from falling from a height at work, it is critical that medical attention be sought immediately.
Crush Injuries
Crush injuries occur when a machine that is being used accidentally injures a part of the employee’s body, such as a hand, finger, or foot. For instance, if a machine is left to continue running, there is a risk of the employee’s hand being crushed. Construction and manufacturing fields pose an especially high risk of crush injuries; however, this type of injury can happen in almost any field of work. The severity of a crush injury depends on the amount of force being exerted from the machine; however, these types of injuries often lead to disability and may lead to other complications. If you have sustained a crush injury while on the job, you may qualify for workers’ compensation insurance benefits, so it is important to seek medical attention and talk with the appropriate parties regarding these benefits.
It is the business owner’s responsibility to prepare for and take all steps necessary to prevent workplace accidents. Following an employee accident, it is required that the employer and the employee take the steps necessary to follow up on the accident. It’s important that the employer know what happened to cause the accident and look for potential weaknesses in the safety procedures of the business. The injuries that occur as a result of an accident in the workplace may be minor and the employee doesn’t miss any time at work; however, some accidents may lead to serious injuries that leave the employee suffering the consequences for many years.
Some of the most common types of injuries resulting from accidents in the workplace often include spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, back injuries, burns, amputations, and wrongful death. If you have been injured while at work it is important to consider all of your options. In the ideal situation, the injured employee is awarded workers’ compensation insurance benefits. However, some employees may be denied these benefits, or they are not sufficient enough to cover the damages. In this situation, it is critical that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to learn more information about your rights to compensation as an employee that sustained injuries while on the job.
