Top Workplace Injuries You Should Know About
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on March 17, 2022
Injuries in the workplace are common. Every year thousands of people get unexpectedly injured on the job. While workplace injuries can happen in a myriad of different ways, there are some common scenarios. Based on data from the National Safety Council (NSC), the top causes of workplace injuries may account for upwards of three out of four nonfatal injuries and illnesses that are serious enough to warrant time off from work.
As workplace injury attorneys, we help fight for the rights of people who get seriously injured while at work. Follow along for more information about some common causes of workplace injuries.
6 Top Workplace Injuries Every Worker Should Know About
1. Exposure to substances or environments that are harmful.
This may include a wide variety of toxins and environmental dangers like getting exposed to:
- Radiation
- Extreme noise
- Extreme temperatures
- Air pressure change
- Water pressure change
- Deficient amounts of oxygen
- Some type of serious, traumatic event
- Dangerous chemicals/substances. According to research reported by Ayana R. Anderson and based on CDC data, the top chemicals that cause workplace injuries are: carbon monoxide, ammonia, chlorine, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.
2. Extreme physical exertion that leads to injury.
This may include a variety of different types of injuries including those caused by pulling, pushing, turning, twisting, lifting, throwing, and carrying things. This also encompasses workplace injuries caused by repetition of a particular “on the job” motion or stance.
3. Injuries caused by some type of trip, jump, fall or slip or a combination thereof.
Often referred to as “slip and fall” injuries, workplace injuries are frequently caused by some kind of trip and/or fall. While there are many different scenarios – here are a few examples:
- Sometimes an injury is caused by the twisting and turning motion of a trip or slip, even though a person doesn’t actually fall down.
- Sometimes people trip and fall into dangerous, hard and/or sharp objects in the work environment.
- Sometimes people fall from ladders or building structures, or they fall through flooring, or off structures that break apart or collapse.
- Injuries may also be unexpectedly caused by jumping, which can lead to a trip and fall-based injury.
5. Injury from certain objects, machinery or equipment in the workplace.
There are many different unique scenarios that may be included under this umbrella but a few examples include the following:
- A person gets hit and injured by some type of object in the workplace
- An injury caused when a person bumps into some type of object or equipment in the workplace
- An injury that happens when a person gets crushed, pinched, or caught on some type of equipment
6. Workplace injuries caused by an explosion, fire, or both.
Fortunately this type of injury is less common, but it is typically very serious and may sometimes even be fatal. This type of incident can be caused by a variety of factors including chemical reactions, equipment malfunctions, and electrical hazards.
7. Injuries from Transportation-Related Accidents.
Workplace injuries caused by some type of transportation incident span the gamut. Examples include incidents when workers are hit and injured by some kind of moving machinery or vehicle, collisions between multiple work vehicles, and/or incidents where a person is injured by a vehicle that hits them while backing up (so called backover accidents).
While the above list is extensive, it by no means covers all the various types of workplace injuries workers may experience including injuries from acts of aggression, either by other humans or even animals on site. If you or someone you love is the victim of a workplace injury, get the legal help you deserve. The experienced team at Cooper and Friedman PLLC has been fighting for the rights of injured workers across the state of Kentucky for decades. For more information or a free case consultation, contact Cooper and Friedman PLLC today by calling 502-459-7555.