Report reveals how, why Americans are injured on the job
While most of us would prefer to think that work injuries are a relatively rare occurrence, the reality is that they occur with alarming frequency, indiscriminately sidelining workers in every occupation and sector.
If you have a hard time believing this, consider that statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that upwards of 4.7 million workers are injured here in the U.S. every year. Breaking these numbers down further, this equates to an astounding 12,900 workers per day and one worker every seven seconds.
Given staggering figures like these, questions naturally arise as to the types of injuries workers are suffering and the reasons as to why they are occurring.
Interestingly enough, Travelers Insurance recently released a report outlining just this type of information. Specifically, their researchers analyzed 1.5 million workers’ compensation claims in a bid to uncover any trends or other notable developments.
Regarding the top five causes of workplace injuries, the report found the following:
- 32 percent of injuries were attributable to material handling
- 16 percent of injuries were attributable to slips, trips and falls
- 10 percent of injuries were attributable to colliding with or being struck by objects
- 7 percent of injuries were attributable to accidents with tools
- 4 percent of injuries were attributable to cumulative trauma
(The remaining 31 percent of injuries were listed under “all other.”)
Regarding the top five types of workplace injuries, the report found the following:
- 30 percent of injuries were sprains/strains
- 19 percent of injuries were cuts/punctures
- 12 percent of injuries were contusions
- 5 percent of injuries were inflammation-related (i.e., tendonitis)
- 5 percent of injuries were fractures
(The remaining 29 percent of injuries were listed under “all other.”)
These findings are truly eye opening and should perhaps serve as a wakeup call to employers about what must be done to make workplaces safer. Indeed, this becomes all the more apparent if you consider how the U.S. workplace is simultaneously getting younger — and more inexperienced — and older — and more vulnerable.
If you have suffered an injury while on the job and would like to learn more about your options as they relate to workers’ compensation benefits, consider speaking with an experienced legal professional as soon as possible.
