Four Most Common Workplace Injuries

While your job doesn’t always have to be your favorite place to be, it should at least be a place where you feel safe and secure. Some jobs are more dangerous than others and put employees more at risk, and these jobs have even more of an obligation to follow safety protocols to keep their workers safe. 

While your employer does have a responsibility to follow the rules and regulations in their industry, it’s also a good idea for employees to know about common workplace injuries. You’ll get a better idea of what you can do to protect yourself and how to notice if your employer isn’t protecting you adequately. Whether you’re looking to protect yourself or just curious about the kinds of workplace accidents and injuries in the county, here are some statistics you need to know.

Five Most Common Workplace Injuries

According to the CDC reporting on the most recent data, these are the top five most common kinds of workplace accidents:

1. Slips, trips, and falls: These injuries accounted for 27% of nonfatal work injuries and happened in many kinds of jobs. 
2. Contact with objects and equipment: The next most common injury came from an accident related to working with various objects or machinery.
3. Overexertion and bodily reaction: Another common type of workplace incident is those that fall under the category of overexertion. This includes issues such as not having enough water or working too many hours.  
4. Crashes involving vehicles: Work-related accidents involving moving vehicles accounted for 24% of all deaths.

While there are many other kinds of workplace accidents, the above four are among the most common across industries.

Common Safety Measures Workplaces Don’t’ Follow Correctly

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration keeps track of the standards for workplace safety from industry to industry. They have some information on the standards that are most often violated. By knowing some of these mistakes, you’ll be more aware of any possible issues as an employer or an employee. 

Here are some of the commonly violated standards that lead to injuries at work: 

10. Improper guards for machinery or machinery that isn’t anchored well enough.
11. Lack of eye and face protection for workers.
12. Not giving training on avoiding falls when working at heights.
13. Lack of certification for industrial trucks.
14. No protocols are in place to lockout/Tagout machinery and equipment.
15. Violations with ladders.
16. Not using scaffoldings correctly.
17. A lack of adequate respiratory protection.
18. Inadequate or updated training on how to handle hazardous materials.
19. A lack of protection from falls. 

The above list gives insight into where employers often fail short in protecting employees. So, if you are at work, pay close attention to these issues and reach out to OSHA or another entity to learn more about the rules. 

What Should You Do If You’re Injured In A Workplace Accident?

Because these accidents aren’t uncommon, you’ll want to know where you can turn for help if you become injured. It can be scary and upsetting when you get hurt while on the job, and you might find that your employer isn’t looking to serve your best interests. In this case, your best option is to turn to a worker’s compensation attorney. 

There are certain industries where workers are especially at risk of workplace accidents, such as construction. So, if you work a dangerous job that requires you to use dangerous machinery or recruitment, be sure to follow all standards and protocols to keep yourself safe.