New Jersey factory workers and others in the manufacturing sector operate in an industry with one of the highest rates of accident fatalities. Thousands of blue-collar workers find themselves injured and unable to work each year due to accidents on the job.
Below is a review of the most common workplace injuries in the manufacturing sector. You can learn a few tips regarding what you can do as a worker to protect yourself both physically on the job and legally if you experience a workplace accident.
Fractures
Fractures, which account for 11% of workplace injuries in manufacturing, are among the most serious types of injuries because they require extensive medical attention to repair. The injury might put the worker out of commission for months at a time, and it can have lingering long-term health effects that require further care and, of course, more money.
That’s why knowing your rights as a worker, including what you qualify for in workers’ compensation, is so important for the future as well as the present. Injured workers should first seek medical care and then the help of a New Jersey attorney who has experience in workers’ compensation cases.
Sprains, strains and tears
This category of workplace injury involves damage to the ligaments, tendons, and other parts of joints and muscle tissue. These injuries often result from bearing heavy loads, such as moving weighty objects off a line. Approximately 30% of workplace injuries are sprains, strains or tears.
Dehydration
Manufacturing is hard work. In addition to being physically demanding, the environmental conditions of the facility such as temperature place an extra burden on workers. Dehydration, which often creeps up slowly without the individual noticing, is common in the manufacturing sector. Knowing when you’ve overextended yourself and staying hydrated throughout the shift is critical.
Soreness
Soreness and non-descript pain, making up 12% of workplace injuries, may be hard to link back to a single cause or event, but it can lower quality of life nonetheless. Improper lifting and repetitive movements are two likely triggers of soreness.
Drinking lots of water, stretching, wearing protective equipment, avoiding alcohol or drugs before and during work, and lifting heavy objects with care can reduce the incidence of workplace injuries. If you have experienced an injury on the job, contact an attorney with experience in workers’ rights to help you understand your legal options for compensation.