Certain occupations put you at a higher risk of incurring injuries. It is important to understand how a workplace accident is legally defined in California and what you can do should you get injured at work.
What is considered a workplace accident?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that workplace accidents are events that are unplanned and cause personal injury and/or damage to property, and these occur while carrying out workplace duties. Intentional harm does not fall under this category. OSHA offers training and assistance to help employers and their employees maintain a safer work environment.
Workplace injuries that are most common
While there are a myriad of ways a person can get injured at work, the following are the most common:
- Slip and trip: This can occur because of poor lighting or issues with the flooring. The person may break bones or wind up with long-term back problems.
- Fall injuries: If there’s no safety management system in place to properly handle any known safety issues, falls are more likely to occur. Someone may fall from high places, such as a ladder, roof, or skyscraper. This is especially serious and can result in life-threatening or debilitating injuries.
- Falling objects: Broken machinery may have parts that can fall and injure someone nearby. Other causes of this type of injury include poorly stacked loads and debris that has not been properly secured.
- Repetitive motion: When someone engages in repetitive motion, such as mopping the floor or stocking shelves, and doesn’t use the proper techniques to reduce the risk of injury, they can hurt their muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons.
- Overexertion: This typically happens when an individual carries, lifts, or pulls equipment or other items repetitively over a longer period than is safe. This can cause muscle strain.
When you’ve been in a workplace accident, you may not know about the legal remedies that are available to you, such as monetary compensation. Work with an attorney to find out if you’re eligible for assistance with your medical bills, physical therapy, and other related expenses that resulted from your accident at work.
