Serious workplace accidents and injuries happen every day. In 2013, 4,405 workers died on the job, while millions more suffered serious injuries from an accident at work. In fact, 3.3 million people suffered a workplace injury that they might never recover from. Below, we explain 10 common workplace accidents.
#1: On the Job Violent Acts
Violent attacks and fights between employees have led to serious physical injuries in workplaces across the country. It is important to be aware and watch out for suspicious activities to help keep these incidents at bay.
#2: Repetitive Motion Injuries
Although this type of workplace injury might seem less obvious, it can cause significant harm in the long run. Repetitive motions like typing can strain muscles and tendons which can lead to back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome. Using proper ergonomic equipment can help limit these incidents.
#3: Machine Entanglement
These injuries usually occur in factories where heavy equipment and machinery are frequently used. Clothing, shoes, fingers and hair can easily become entangled in a machine when precaution is not taken. Using protective equipment and paying close attention to details is the best way to prevent these incidents.
#4: Vehicle Accidents
Employees who have jobs that require them to drive for business purposes are often injured in auto accidents. Unfortunately, some of these accidents are fatal.
#5: Walking Into Injuries
This can happen when a person accidentally runs into objects like walls, doors, cabinets, glass windows, tables, and chairs. This can result in head, knee, neck, and foot injuries. Employers should focus on keeping their work environment free from hazards to prevent these types of injuries from happening.
#6: Falling Object Injuries
When an object falls from shelves or is dropped by a person, it can cause serious injuries. Head injuries are commonly caused by falling objects in workplaces. The key to limiting these kinds of injuries is to keep workspaces free from hazards. Using safety gear like a hard hat, can also help keep workers safe.
#7: Reaction Injuries
These kinds of injuries are usually caused by slipping and tripping without falling. Reaction injuries can cause muscle damage, body trauma, and a variety of other medical issues. These injuries are hard to prevent, so employees should try to pay attention to what is going on around them.
#8: Falling from Heights
Falls from elevated areas such as roofs, ladders, and stairways can cause severe injuries. Sometimes, these injuries are caused by slip and fall accidents or by faulty equipment.
#9: Slipping/Tripping
Falls caused by wet and slippery floors or trips over objects lying on the ground are the second most common workplace accidents. Employers should have safety guidelines to ensure that spills and dangerous debris is promptly cleaned up.
#10: Overexertion Injuries
These injuries are caused by frequent pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing activities at work. Overexertion injuries are the number one reported workplace injury.
Contact our San Antonio workers' compensation attorney to schedule your free consultation today.