Some jobs are obviously dangerous because they involve work performed at a significant elevation. Construction workers, for example, have higher fatality rates than those in many other professions because they must do their work had a significant elevation. Falls are a leading cause of death in the construction industry.
Obviously, those working at significant heights have noticeable work risks, but falls can affect people in almost any profession. According to federal workplace injury statistics, hundreds of people die every year due to falls while they work, and hundreds of thousands of people develop noteworthy injuries because of workplace falls. Falls are one of the top causes of workers’ compensation claims and can impact people in almost any profession.
Falls can result in major injuries
As previously noted, a fall from a significant elevation has the potential to prove fatal. Employers often need to provide both special safety equipment and training for those who do their jobs at a significant elevation. However, workers in retail environments or at hospitals can also end up injured in a fall and unable to continue working. Same-level falls can produce concerning injuries that necessitate workers’ compensation coverage.
A same-level fall could lead to a broken bone. People might break bones in their arms, shoulders, collarbones or legs. Fractures to the hips are also a concern when workers are over the age of 55. Even if a worker doesn’t break a bone, they could develop a soft tissue injury by trying to stop themselves when they fall. As if that weren’t bad enough, there’s also the possibility that someone could hit their head. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause permanent functional limitations that force people to change professions and necessitate tens of thousands of dollars in medical treatment.
Workers’ compensation benefits may be available after a fall regardless of whether it was a same-level tripping incident or a fall from an elevation. Employees can potentially receive medical coverage through workers’ compensation for their treatment and disability pay until they can get back to work. Those who file a workers’ compensation claim can recoup some of the financial losses caused by a fall on the job. Understanding common job hazards may benefit those hoping to avoid injury and those trying to mitigate the impact of a recent fall at work.