Private industry employers reported more than 3 million workplace injuries and illnesses in a single recent year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than half of those injuries were serious enough to require days away from work, job restrictions or a job transfer.
Workers’ compensation is the system that provides medical and financial assistance when someone is injured in an on-the-job accident, helping workers while they recover or providing a modified work environment as they return to the job.
A report from Trusted Choice independent insurance agents compiled the top 10 injuries related to workers’ compensation claims, along with the jobs that file the most claims each year. Here is the top 10 list:
Overexertion
A study from the Department of Labor showed that overexertion, common in factory and construction jobs, was the most common workplace injury. The injury can happen during the act of throwing, pulling or lifting, causing a joint to be moved beyond its range of motion or a pulling a muscle.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Wet floors are a major cause of workers’ compensation claims over slips, trips and falls in workplaces. Snowy and icy walkways are another source of these injuries. Store associates, groundskeepers and security workers are among the workers most susceptible to these kinds of accidents and injuries, though virtually anyone could be a victim.
Falls to Lower Level
Injuries can happen when a worker falls off a roof, scaffold or ladder, or down a flight of stairs, for example. This is most common among roofers and construction workers, especially employees who work in a multi-level workspace.
Bodily Reaction
Workers can be injured when they trip and avoid falling but still twist or sprain their knee or ankle or injure their back, for example. It can happen to anyone in virtually any situation.
Struck by Object
Injuries can happen when an object is dropped by another worker to a lower level or an item falls off a shelf, for example. Retail, restaurant and office workers are among those most at risk for this type of injury.
Struck Against an Object
Injuries can happen when a person falls into or is forced into an object such as a bookshelf or barricade. This can easily happen to factory and office workers.
Traffic Accident
One of top work causes of injuries for people who drive for a living, such as truckers and delivery drivers, is an accident while on the road. Car accident injuries can also happen to police officers and those who travel often for their job.
Machinery Accidents
Heavy machinery can cause crushing injuries to construction or factory workers. These injuries are often quite serious and result in high medical bills. Most states have laws that require training before workers operate heavy machinery, but many employers fail to provide it.
Repetitive Motion
These types of injuries come from workers doing the same thing over and over, such as lifting boxes, working on an assembly line or using a computer mouse. The conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and bursitis.
Workplace Violence
Violence in the workplace is rare, but it does happen. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 375 workers were killed in shootings while on the job in a single recent year.
If you have been hurt on the job, it’s important to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. In addition to workers’ comp benefits, you may also be entitled to compensation in a third-party lawsuit against a non-employer who contributed to your accident and injury.
Sources:
- Trusted Choice – 10 Most Common Workers Compensation Claims
- Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries And Illnesses – 2013
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