Workplace injuries are more common than you may think. In fact, a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. Although not all of these injuries are serious, many of them do wind up resulting in medical bills, missed work, and lost wages and some lead to much more severe consequences such as permanent disability or death. The causes of workplace injuries are pretty diverse, but if you’re concerned about your safety at your job there are a few issues you’ll want to keep an eye out for that come up more than others.
Overexertion Injuries
Overexertion is widely accepted Overexertion can occur when workers are performing physical tasks for which they haven’t received sufficient training or are not in good enough shape to perform. Overexertion injuries include things like strains and sprains due to lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, holding, or throwing objects.
These injuries are unlikely to be fatal or lead to long-term disability, but if you’ve ever suffered a sprain, a strain, or another type of injury caused by overexertion, you know that they can cause substantial pain and suffering. They can also lead employees to require time off from work, leaving them with lost wages to deal with in addition to medical bills.
Serious Falls
According to the Liberty Mutual Safety Index, serious falls from either the same level or an upper-level account for nearly 30% of workplace injuries. Around 19.2% of the injuries reported in 2017 fell at the same level, while 10.0% fell to a lower level. Falls from height can lead to paralysis, permanent disability, and even death.
Slips and Trips Without Falls
Not all injuries incurred from slips and trips involve a fall, from a height or otherwise. Nearly 4% of all workplace injuries are caused by slips and trips that don’t involve falls. These kinds of accidents may be less likely to be fatal or lead to permanent disability, but the frequency at which they occur is still reason for concern. You can check out www.daveabels.com/wet-and-slippery-floors.html to learn more about this cause of injury.
Falling Objects
Chances are, you’re assuming that only construction workers are at risk of being struck by falling objects. That’s why all construction workers are required to wear those safety helmets, right? The unfortunate reality is that warehouse employees, landscaping contractors, and even restaurant workers can all suffer injuries due to falling objects if adequate care has not been taken to ensure that their work environments are safe.
Road Accidents
There is a common misconception that workers compensation insurance only covers injuries that occur at construction sites, in offices, or at physical job sites. In reality, this program was designed to cover any worker who is on the job, and that includes those who must drive to different locations over the course of their work days. The Liberty Mutual Safety Index places roadway accidents as the most common type of workplace injury after overexertion, falls, and falling objects, as these accidents account for 5.5% of injuries each year.
The Bottom Line
When most people think of being injured on the job, the image that comes to mind is usually of a construction worker or someone on a road crew. Now, though, you know better. You know that workplace injuries are quite diverse and they can occur in just about any environment.
