New Jersey employers must comply with the laws to ensure that their workers stay safe. However, even when precautions are in place, workplace accidents can still occur. These are some of the most common ones and the injuries they can cause.
Slip-and-falls
Slip-and-fall accidents are very common in the workplace and can happen for various reasons. Uneven carpeting or rugs, wet, slippery floors, clutter in walkways and stairs and uneven, broken stairways can all lead to these accidents. Common walking areas must be kept clear and clean to prevent a potential fall, which could lead to broken bones, sprains or strains.
Repetitive motion injuries
Many workers perform the same motions repeatedly to fulfill their job duties. Whether the job requires an employee to sit at a desk for seven or eight hours per day at a computer or constantly lift and move objects or people from one place to another, this can lead to repetitive motion injuries. These injuries develop over a period of time and can cause debilitating pain, stiffness, limited range of motion and more problems. Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome can develop, leading to workers filing for workers’ compensation.
Machinery accidents
In the least serious accidents involving machinery and equipment, workers are at a greater risk of cuts and lacerations. Even those who are fully trained to properly use them can have an accident if the equipment malfunctions. In the worst-case scenario, heavy machinery accidents can lead to severe injuries like amputation or crushing, which can be deadly.
Vehicle accidents
Employees whose jobs require them to drive vehicles can suffer a variety of injuries if they get into accidents. Everything from driving a truck to operating a forklift on a construction site poses serious risks to workers involved in vehicle accidents.