Serious and fatal injuries in the workplace are far too common. Each year, thousands are killed on the job, while millions more suffer severe injuries in the United States.
The following are the most common causes of workers’ compensation injuries:
- Overexertion – Considered the leading cause of injury, overexertion typically relates to lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, throwing, or holding. Furthermore, it is also the most expensive injury.
- Slips and trips – Slips often occur on wet and slippery floors, while trips happen when something is on the floor. It is imperative for employees to be aware of their surroundings at all times.
- Falls from heights – This type of all occurs from elevated areas, including roofs, stairways, and ladders.
- Falling object injuries – Objects that are dropped by another individual or fall from shelves can cause severe injuries, often head injuries. Proper protection gear, such as a hard hat, is necessary for working environments that are prone to falling objects.
- Work vehicle accidents – An employee driving for business purposes are typically injured in motor vehicle collisions, some of which can be deadly.
- Machine entanglement – In workplaces where heavy machinery and equipment are used, such as construction and manufacturing, items including clothes, shoes, hair, and fingers can become caught and entangled in a machine, resulting in catastrophic injuries.
- Repetitive motion injuries – Sometimes work injuries can occur over a period of time instead of happening all at once. This type of injury occurs in workplaces that require you to type or use a computer throughout each day.
If you suffered an injury on the job and need workers’ compensation benefits, contact our Sacramento workers’ compensation attorney at Smolich and Smolich to request a free consultation today.