Most Common Workplace Injuries
Depending on the type of work you do, you may face a higher risk of sustaining a serious injury. However, serious or fatal injuries can occur at any workplace. Every employee is entitled to a safe workplace, but unfortunately, some companies fail to adhere to workplace safety.
Workplace injuries can affect the employee’s physical and mental health. The law states that employees are entitled to receive proper compensation for the damages through Workers’ Comp. Injuries can cause major disability that is can be detrimental to employee’s work and personal life. Because of this, Balkin & Mausner wants you to know the most common workplace injuries and what they entail.
Top 10 Most Common Workplace Injuries
Walking Into Hazards
This happens when a person accidentally runs into concrete objects such as walls, doors, glass windows, etc. Head, knee, neck and foot injuries are a common result of this injury. Keeping the work environment free from hazards are key to preventing these types of injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Employees who operate a motor vehicle as part of their job duties are at a high risk of motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, many motor vehicle accidents cause serious and fatal injuries.
On the Job Violent Acts
Attacks caused by office politics or other arguments have led to serious physical injuries. Workplace training and employee diligence in watching out for suspicious activities can help keep these incidents at bay.
Machine Entanglement
This workplace injury is one of the less obvious injuries. However, it can be a harmful one in the long run. Repetitive motions such as typing and using the computer all day can strain muscles and tendons, causing back pain, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Dangerous Materials
There are workers who are required hazardous substances at the workplace. It is the duty of the employer to provide adequate safety training and safety equipment to the workers who are exposed to the hazardous material. Prolonged exposure to some materials, such as asbestos, can cause serious and life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
Reaction Injuries
Reaction injuries are caused by slipping and tripping without falling. They may cause muscle injuries, body trauma, and a variety of other medical issues. It’s important for employees to pay attention to the environment around them.
Slipping/Tripping
This pertains to falls on wet and slippery office floors. Other related examples are falls and slips especially by elderly people on snow covered pathways on their way to work.
Caught/Compressed
This type of injury usually occurs in a factory where large and dangerous machinery is used. Sometimes little or no precaution in its usage may endanger the operator’s safety.
Falling from Heights
This type of fall happens from an elevated area such as roofs, ladders, and stairways. They can be caused by slip and fall accidents or due to faulty equipment. This can be avoided by the use of personal protection gear and training.
Overexertion
This includes workplace injuries that are related to pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying and throwing activities at work. Overexertion has consistently been a number one workplace injury among the surveys and statistics.
Training, diligence and proper safety equipment are vital to reducing workplace injuries. Education is what takes safety to the next level. If you have suffered from a workplace injury, you deserve compensation. Seek out Balkin & Mausner to see your rights. For more information, contact us here or call us at 888-751-5908. We’re here for you.