Every workplace is different, and some workplaces are inherently more dangerous than others. However, some injuries are more common than others almost anywhere you go.
A workplace injury does not always result from a dramatic construction accident or a dangerous piece of machinery. Employees can be hurt while lifting a box, walking across a wet floor or performing the same physical task repeatedly. Even an ordinary workday can end with an injury that requires medical treatment and time away from the job. Data gathered by the National Safety Council (NSC) indicates that three categories account for a majority of workplace injuries. They include:
1. Contact with objects, equipment, people or animals
This broad category includes workers being struck by falling or propelled objects, caught in powered equipment or compressed between objects. It also includes injuries caused by contact with another person or an animal. As a result, these incidents are not limited to industrial settings. Health care workers, delivery drivers, veterinary employees, retail workers and people in many other occupations may be at risk.
2. Overexertion and repetitive motion injuries
These injuries often occur when employees lift, push, pull, carry or otherwise move objects. A worker may suffer a sudden back or shoulder injury while handling a heavy load. In other cases, the damage develops gradually. Repetitive tasks, prolonged awkward positions and repeated bodily movements can also cause painful conditions. Employees who type, work on assembly lines, stock merchandise or repeatedly bend and reach may develop injuries affecting their hands, wrists, shoulders, knees or backs. These make valid workers’ compensation claims, even though there is no singular event that caused the damage.
3. Falls, slips and trips
Falls, slips and trips accounted for 479,480 cases involving days away from work. Some workers fall from ladders, roofs, scaffolding or other elevated surfaces. However, a serious injury can also result from a same-level fall caused by a wet floor, loose cord, uneven walkway or misplaced object. These accidents may cause broken bones, head injuries, back injuries and damage to the knees or shoulders. Older employees and workers whose jobs require them to move quickly may face particularly serious consequences.
Professional legal guidance can help injured employees file a workers’ compensation claim and get the benefits they are due after a workplace injury, regardless of the type.
