Every seven seconds, a worker is injured on the job. This accounts for 510 injuries per hour, 12,600 a day, 88,500 a week, and over 4 million injuries per year. While some jobs are more dangerous than others by nature, accidents can – and do – happen in every workplace. Here are 5 of the most common types of workplace injuries.
- Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries
Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries are very common in the workplace. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, they make up 33.54 percent of workplace injuries. These are injuries that often stem from pushing, pulling, lifting, throwing, and carrying objects. Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries often occur from other actions such as failing to give yourself enough breaks, trying to work too quickly, and even typing and clicking intensively.
- Slips, Trips & Falls
Accounting for 25.8 percent of injuries, slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading injuries filed under workers’ compensation. These injuries can often cause pulled muscles, head and back injuries, cuts, lacerations, and even broken bones. This is why it’s so important to make sure that you always pay attention to where you are going and what you’re doing, always wear proper footwear, and keep all common areas and walking surfaces clear.
- Machinery Accidents
Some workplace injuries involve getting caught in or struck by moving machinery. These accidents often result in crushed and severed limbs, blindness, and other serious injuries. Generally, these types of accidents occur where the work is being performed, where the energy is being transmitted to perform that work, and other pathways through which the machine moves. For this reason, you should always make sure that you receive proper training and wear proper protective gear, and ensure that the machine is operating properly.
- Transportation and Vehicle Accidents
Another common cause of workplace injuries is related to transportation and vehicles. These types of accidents may include being hit by a vehicle, run over by a vehicle, becoming stuck and crushed under an overturned vehicle, and being hit by objects that fall from a vehicle. These accidents generally occur in two places: on the roadway when the vehicle is assisting in roadwork, and in the actual workplace. It’s important to make sure that work vehicles are kept separate from all pedestrians and that there is nothing blocking the view of the operator.
- Fires and Explosions
The last common workplace injury we’ll discuss is related to fires and explosions. This can often occur due to open flames, combustibles that are not properly stored, and faulty gas lines. Although these types of injuries are rare, they have the highest rate of fatalities of workplace accidents. It is important to always wear protective equipment, maintain safety data sheets for all chemicals, have a clear plan for evacuation, and have a system in place to alert all employees of an emergency event. Workers should also be given breaks, proper equipment for lifting, and a thorough education on all equipment and tasks.
An Experienced North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
Unfortunately, even when proper precautions are taken, accidents do still occur. If you have been injured on the job, you deserve to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorneys at Daggett Shuler can help you to receive what you deserve. Let us help you to move forward. Call us at 336-724-1234.
Daggett Shuler Law – You Can Depend on Us