5 Common Workplace Injuries
Getting injured at work is something nobody ever wants to happen, however, it occurs much more often than most know. While it isn’t always possible to prevent workplace injuries, we want to give you some information about the most commonly seen injuries in the workplace in hopes of keeping them from happening to you.
Slips, Trips & Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common injuries in the workplace. These types of accidents occur when there is something on the floor, such as:
A spill that wasn’t cleaned up
Oil/grease
Wet floors with no signage
Objects in the walkway
When there are unsafe walking conditions at work, it is very simple for someone to fall and seriously injure themselves. Slip and fall accidents have the ability to cause serious injuries, including:
Broken bones
Sprains
Fractures
In severe cases, brain injury
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) occur when you are asked to do the same “repetitive” actions throughout your day. For example, someone who is an office worker may be asked to work their whole 8-hour shift sitting in front of the computer. By using the same movement day in and day out, the office worker may suffer from repetitive stress injuries. In this case, some of the injuries may include:
Carpal tunnel
Lower back injuries/strains
Shoulder strains/tears
RSIs are rapidly becoming one of the most common workplace injuries due to the fact that they can impact individuals in many different job types.
Vehicle Accidents
Where there is heavy machinery, there is also the chance that there will be severe accidents. Some of the accidents include:
Being struck by a vehicle
Falling out of a vehicle
Getting crushed by a vehicle
Being struck by objects falling from a vehicle
While vehicular accidents are most prominent in the agricultural industry, this is also a large concern for those working in factories or construction sites. If there is large machinery where you work, you should be sure to take extra caution to ensure your safety.
Falling from High Places
Injuries caused by falling from high areas are typically a large concern for those who must be in those areas for work. Individuals who work in manual labor positions like roofers, linemen, factory workers, and many other professions have the risk of falling from high places. Falling from locations such as:
Roofs
Ladders
Stairways
Cranes
Platforms
Falling from heights may happen for a number of different reasons:
Faulty equipment
Improper training
Losing footing
Slippery surfaces
Overexertion
Overexertion is another workplace injury that is most commonly seen in manual labor based jobs. Overexertion injuries are caused when an individual does just that—overexerts themselves. This may include:
Improperly lifting objects
Lifting heavy objects alone
Moving too quickly to meet deadlines
Working through breaks
It is important to understand your rights to your safety as an employee. Make sure to take breaks regularly and ensure you are lifting objects with proper technique.
How Chopin Law Firm Can Help
Following a workplace injury, you may be unsure of what steps to take next.
Was the injury my fault? Do I have a workers compensation claim? Is my employer responsible for paying my medical bills?
At Chopin Law Firm, our New Orleans personal injury attorneys have years of experience helping our clients get the compensation they deserve to recover and get back to work. We work around the clock to ensure our clients receive the best possible outcome. We will guide you through the whole process from start to finish, compose evidence to build a strong case, and fight for you until we win!
Contact us today at (504) 475-2429 to schedule your free case evaluation.