Those who do physical labor for a living often reap the reward of working harder and faster. Sometimes, the balance of productivity and safety gets lost and workers become more accident prone.
This is common in fast-paced environments such as construction, retail, restaurant service, manufacturing and warehousing. Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc. recently released its 2020 workplace safety index, which identifies the most common and costliest workplace injuries.
The leading workplace injuries
According to the index, the three most common causes of injuries when working too hard and too fast during 2017 included:
- Overexertion. Overexertion often results in gradual or sudden musculoskeletal injuries and is caused by frequent lifting, bending, twisting and repetitive movements. It can also be caused by straining or lifting heavy objects. According to the index, overexertion made up roughly one quarter of workplace injuries in 2017 and cost employers nearly $14 billion. Overexertion was most common in:
- Healthcare (30.1%)
- Manufacturing (20.3%)
- Professional services (18.4%)
- Retail (28.5%)
- Transportation and warehousing (22.7%)
- Wholesale (28.2%)
- Falls. Same-level falls can occur due to slippery surfaces, debris, uneven surfaces, loose wires and other tripping hazards. Falls often result in traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, lacerations, bruises and spinal injuries. According to the index, same-level falls made up 18% of all workplace injuries in 2017 and cost employers nearly $11 billion. Same-level falls were most common in:
- Construction (24.1%)
- Hospitality and leisure (30.6%)
- Struck by objects or equipment. Workers can be struck by objects or equipment when they (or those handling objects or equipment) cut corners with safety or are inattentive. Struck-by accidents can lead to severe injuries, such as crushed limbs, amputations, severe bone fractures and paralysis. Struck-by accidents accounted for roughly 10% of all workplace injuries in 2017 and cost employers more than $6 billion. These types of accidents are most likely to occur in:
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
Workers' compensation benefits available
If you were injured due to overexertion, a fall, a struck-by accident or any other workplace accident, you may be eligible to collect workers' compensation benefits in Ohio. To get started, it's important that you report your workplace accident to your employer. This will allow them to fill out an incident report and keep a record of what happened.
You should then seek immediate medical attention and get documentation of your visit with your doctor. A workplace injury may not only take months or years to recover from, it can be financially and emotionally devastating. To maximize your chances of getting compensated, talk to an experienced Ohio workers' compensation attorney at Hochman & Plunkett Co., L.P.A.
Our legal team can help you get started on your claim, ensure that all paperwork is filled out correctly, and that all critical documentation is prepared for trial. Contact us online to get started.