Workplace injuries cost companies billions of dollars a year in workers’ compensation and other costs. Most injuries occur in manual labor jobs, but there are risks to office workers as well. Here are the top workplace injuries every company should be aware of.
Overexertion
Overexertion is by far the top workplace injury, accounting for more than a quarter of all workers’ compensation claims. This category covers physical overexertion such as occurs with excessive lifting, pushing or pulling, as well as exertion that occurs when no object is involved, such as from bending and twisting.
Slips, trips and falls
Falls are a major cause of injuries in the workplace. Workers can fall down, fall off equipment, slip on wet floors or trip over objects in the workplace. It’s extremely important to make the workplace as free of obstructions as possible and also to train employees on safety regarding falls.
Hitting an object or being hit by an object
The third leading cause of workplace injuries is workers being struck by or striking an object. The strike could come from a vehicle, a piece of equipment that breaks loose or a projectile from a malfunctioning machine. Workers also encounter a number of situations where they can strike an object. They might run into a pallet or a piece of machinery, either on foot or while operating a forklift or maintenance cart.
Auto accidents
This category can include anything from car and truck crashes on the open roads to the crash of a forklift or skid loader inside a warehouse. Such accidents can often result in serious injuries, and those involved in these types of accidents should contact a personal injury lawyer.
Compression injuries
Another leading cause of workers’ comp injuries is people getting themselves or a body part caught in or compressed by a machine or inventory. This could include getting an arm caught in an auger or having a leg crushed by a pallet of goods.
Repetitive motion injuries
This is one of the few categories of injuries where the injury is not acute. This covers injuries that occur over time because of repetitive motions. It could cover an office worker who gets carpal tunnel syndrome from typing or a warehouse worker with back problems from repetitive lifting.
Heeding these injuries and improving safety in your business could save you a significant amount of money, as well as increase your productivity.
This article is courtesy of Anita Ginsburg, a freelance writer from Denver who often writes about home, family, law and business. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing.
