Examples of Work Related Injuries & How to Handle Them
Work-related injuries are a common and very serious problem that can negatively affect the worker and the company. You can do a few things to reduce the risk of injury, such as ensuring you take a proper safety course when you start your new job. The article below will give you some ideas to prevent these types of accidents and how to deal with them once they happen.
Slips and falls
If you want to protect your business from lawsuits, you must take steps to prevent slips and falls at your workplace. There are simple ways to help you do this.
The most obvious is wearing the right footwear. You should also keep your floors and walkways clear of obstacles. You can also install warning signs to alert other workers to slippery surfaces.
Slips and falls are the leading cause of occupational injuries and can result in serious traumas. Some of these injuries include head injury, neck injury, and back injury. In some cases, falls are fatal. You should contact your employer immediately if you experience a fall. You may be able to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits.
Some examples of slips and falls are falling from heights, wet floors, clumsy employees, and improperly maintained equipment. If you see a co-worker hurt, report it to the foreman or someone else on your staff.
A safe working environment is the most effective way to prevent slips and falls. This can be accomplished by creating a well-designed workspace, installing proper equipment, and training employees on safety rules.
The first step to preventing accidents is to ensure that the work area is clean and tidy. Debris on the floor, uneven surfaces, and a lack of walkways are common causes of these accidents. You should also install a system for exhaust and drainage to help reduce the risk of contaminants building up in the workplace.
You can reduce the chances of a slip and fall by using anti-slip mats or ensuring the surface is clean. It would be best to be careful when walking on wet or slippery surfaces.
Repetitive motion injuries
Repetitive motion injuries are one of the leading claims in workers' compensation. Although they are often temporary, they can lead to permanent disability. If you have been injured in the workplace, consult a lawyer to determine your rights.
Repetitive motion injuries occur when you perform a repetitive motion for an extended period. The most common examples of these injuries are carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. They can be painful, limiting your ability to perform your job.
You should seek medical care immediately if you experience pain or discomfort while performing a particular task. You should also report the symptoms to your employer.
In most cases, the injury will resolve itself within a few weeks. However, if it does not, your doctor may prescribe medications to ease the pain. They may also recommend physical therapy to help you recover. If the injury is severe, surgery may be necessary.
A repetitive motion injury can affect anyone, regardless of age. They are most often seen in people who perform tasks that require repetitive motion. Some of these include bending, reaching, grasping, and twisting. They can also be caused by overuse, poor training, or direct pressure on a joint.
The most common symptoms of a repetitive motion injury are pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness in the affected area. The most common cause of these symptoms is nerve entrapment. If your injury involves the wrist, you may be able to avoid a surgical procedure by applying a brace to the wrist to prevent further damage.
Bursitis is another repetitive motion injury that can be painful. Unlike tendinitis, bursitis is an inflammation of a bursa, a small pouch located in the body's soft tissues. It is a traumatic condition that can affect the knee, elbow, and hip.
Falling or moving objects
During the construction process, falling or moving objects can cause serious injury. It is a good idea to take the proper precautions to prevent this. However, accidents can occur without your knowledge.
Whether it's an improperly loaded job-site truck, materials falling off conveyors, or a person accidentally hit by a moving object, injuries can be fatal. To avoid these accidents, it's important to keep a clean workplace.
Workers in the construction industry are particularly at risk. In some cases, they can suffer from broken bones and head trauma. In other cases, a worker's spinal cord is damaged.
The most common work-related injuries involve overexertion. Overexertion can be caused by improper lifting techniques or bending while working. When doing repetitive tasks, workers should take short breaks.
One of the most common causes of overexertion injuries is using power tools. Workers should always wear protective gear when working with power tools, including a hard hat and safety glasses.
Falling or moving objects are a serious concern when working at an elevated location. They can cause injury to workers, as well as other people. To prevent them from occurring, employers should consider specific laws and precautions.
A guardrail system can help protect employees from falling objects. Ladders and scaffolds can also fall if they need to be properly secured. Similarly, a canopy can provide shelter from the elements and prevent objects from falling.
Taking the time to learn about your surroundings can help you avoid workplace injuries. In addition to identifying hazards, managers should regularly check their employee's records to see if there are any repeated problems.
Using the right tools, ensuring your housekeeping is proper, and getting adequate training are a few ways to reduce your risk of injury. In addition, you should always follow OSHA's fall protection requirements.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is designing tasks to accommodate an employee's physical limitations. It involves engineering, industrial design, and psychology. The goal is to reduce workplace injuries.
Many people in the United States have work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These disorders affect muscles, ligaments, and nerves. They can lead to lost wages, pain, and other problems.
Some common symptoms of MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sprains. The Institute of Medicine estimates that workplace MSDs cost employers up to $54 billion annually. The most common causes of these injuries include repetitive motions and poor posture.
Workers in several industries, including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare, are at increased risk for ergonomic injuries. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of these expenses are for workers' compensation.
Ergonomics can mitigate the risk of MSDs by analyzing the biomechanics of a job. It can also reduce stress by minimizing the number of tasks that require repetitive movements.
The most common workplace ergonomic injury is lower back pain. This is due to an increase in stress on the spine. The best way to combat this is to take frequent breaks and change positions throughout the day.
Other common workplaces ergonomic injuries are wrist, shoulder, and neck injuries. These can result from improper lifting. You can reduce your risk of injury by asking for help or using proper lifting techniques.
Some workplace environments, such as offices, may be designed with ergonomics. The goal is to reduce pain, stress, and injuries. However, if your workplace does not have an ergonomics program, you are at a higher risk for ergonomics-related injury.
Costs
Work-related injuries can have a very serious impact on both the employer and the employee. They can lead to a decrease in productivity and quality of life. They also contribute to the overall cost of healthcare.
Understanding the financial effects of workplace injury can help employers make safer decisions. It can also raise awareness about the magnitude of the problem and contribute to a more efficient allocation of OSH resources.
There are two models for estimating the costs of workplace accidents. One model focuses on direct costs and the other on indirect costs. Both provide different results. Unlike the former, the latter also includes intangible costs.
One of the highest costs of a workplace injury is worker's compensation. These programs cover wage replacement benefits and medical and other expenses. However, workers' compensation does not include other costs associated with absences, such as those incurred by the injured worker's family.
The LMWSI is an annual measure of the direct insured cost of the most disabling workplace injuries. It was first established in 2000. It was developed to enable ranking and tracking over time. In 2010 the LMWSI reached a level similar to that of 1998 when adjusted for inflation.
The LMWSI is used to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions. Its most recent estimates have shown that work-related illnesses decreased from 4.2 million in 1999 to 4.1 million in 2010. In addition, the number of days lost due to a work-related illness has decreased from 22 days in 1998 to 30 days in 2010.
Despite these improvements, the number of workplace injuries is still high. In Great Britain, a million workers are made ill by their jobs every year.
Why Hire a Work-Related Injury Attorney?
Having an experienced work-related injury lawyer on your side can help you get the compensation you deserve. Whether you're suffering from a permanent disability, lost wages, or other workplace-related complications, an attorney can help you navigate the claims process and make sure you get the best possible result.
At OUCH USA, we have a group of committed work injury attorneys who will fight for you. We know how to achieve outcomes and are familiar with the worker's compensation system. For a free consultation, call us at +1-844-872-6824 or email hello@ouchusa.com immediately. Let us help you obtain the compensation you are due.