Injuries in the workplace are a leading cause of lost work time and productivity. The National Safety Council estimates that every seven seconds, a worker in the US is injured on the job. That leads to 104,000,000 lost production days every year, and millions of dollars in medical treatment.
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other federal agencies work to improve workplace safety, accidents are still constant, particularly in places like construction sites. Even with proper safety equipment, it’s still possible to get hurt on the job, wherever you work. Cuts and lacerations, sprains, tears, and strains as well as pain and soreness all keep workers home after an injury on the job.Here are the top causes according to the National Safety Council.
Overexertion And Repetitive Motion
Did you pick up something that was too heavy for you? Did you try to move something that was more effort than you thought it would be? Or do you do the same types of motions over and over every day? These are all indicators of overexertion and repetitive motion injuries.They can take the forms of:
- Heavy lifting
- Direct excess physical effort—pulling, pushing, throwing, carrying
- Loading, lifting and moving supplies or freight
- Repetitive motions, such as
- Using tools
- Typing on a keyboard
- Working on an assembly line
- Sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle or a desk
- Other bodily motion, such as kneeling, crawling, twisting and bending
Although the industries most at risk for these injuries are warehousing and transportation, nearly anyone can experience it.Overexertion is the most common workplace injury, usually as a back injury. About 28 in every 10,000 people experience this kind of injury every year, losing an average of 12 days of work. The average age of someone with this type of injury is 45 to 64.
Slips, Trips And Falls
Losing your footing anywhere at work is more than just embarrassing, it can be downright dangerous. Slipping, tripping, and falling at work can happen in a number of ways, including:
- Wet floors
- Other slick substances on floors, such as oil or grease
- Trip hazards left in the footpath
- Damaged flooring or carpeting
- Uneven floors
- Icy sidewalks
While this kind of injury in frequently seen in manufacturing and construction, retail had the most recorded slip, trip, and fall injuries, with 29,803 in 2018. Falls are one of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” in construction.Slip, trip, and falls can cause a wide range of injuries, including broken bones, muscle strains, lacerations, and even traumatic brain injuries. They affect 23 workers out of every 10,000 and leave workers with some of the same injuries as overexertion. They are most common in agriculture, warehousing, and transportation, and affect workers over 55 the most.
Workplace Injuries Involving Equipment
Many work environments involve backhoes, bulldozers, cranes, different types of cutting equipment, electrical fixtures, and other potentially dangerous tools. When used incorrectly, without the correct safety training and gear, equipment-related injuries can result.It’s the third most common form of workplace injuries, involving cuts, lacerations, punctures, and needle sticks in healthcare workers. It can also include:
- Crush injuries
- Injuries from vibration
- A worker struck by a moving object
- A worker striking an object, such as stepping on, bumping into, or being thrown or pushed onto an object
- Injury resulting from pressure or friction between the individual and the source of the injury
These injuries occur in 23 out of every 10,000, primarily individuals between 16 and 24, with injuries that mean at least a five-day absence from work. Construction, agriculture, warehousing, and transportation are the most common industries for equipment-related injuries.
Help With Your Kansas City Workers Compensation Claim
After a workplace injury in Kansas City, you should first notify your employer, explaining what happened and how. Once your injury has been reported to their insurer for worker’s compensation, it’s up to the carrier to decide on whether or not to approve your claim so you can receive treatment.Since 1918, The Popham Law Firm has been representing people just like you in Workers Compensation claims. We’ll be happy to review your case, let you know if you have one, and how to proceed. Contact us at (844) 243-2288 or (use our online contact form) to get started.
