Workplace accidents are common in today’s busy professional world. From catastrophic construction accidents to repetitive stress injuries, employees in every industry file workers’ compensation claims every year. According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds. This amounts to 4.6 million workplace injuries every year, resulting in 104 million days of lost work and productivity.
Workplace injuries, such as sprains, strains, cuts, and back pain, are typically treated quickly and result in minimal long-term damage. Unfortunately, not all workplace injuries are as minor, and many do not heal as quickly. Some result in a lifetime of pain, suffering, and permanent disability.
The 3 Most Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
When workers’ compensation claims were examined, researchers uncovered three main causes of workplace accidents.
- Overexertion – lifting items, lowering objects, and repetitive motion can all cause overexertion injuries. In fact, overexertion injuries accounted for 33.54% of all workplace injury events. To avoid these types of injuries, avoid bending and twisting while you are lifting objects and take frequent breaks. If an object is too heavy, be sure to use appropriate equipment, such as dollies, lifts, or pulleys, in order to complete the task.
- Contact with objects and equipment – working around mechanical equipment can be dangerous. Workers can be struck by an object, caught in or compressed by equipment, or crushed in a structure while on the job. In fact, contact with objects and equipment injuries account for 26% of all workplace accidents. In order to avoid these injuries, be aware of moving objects in your work area and always wear proper protective equipment.
- Slips, trips, and falls – falls while on the job can have devastating consequences, especially when they occur from a significant height. Falls and slips accounted for 25.8% of all workplace accidents. In order to avoid these injuries, place ladders on even surfaces, use scaffolding whenever possible, clean up spills and liquids immediately, and fix known flooring hazards promptly.
The Most Dangerous Professions in Florida
An accident can occur in an office cubicle or on a loading dock. No matter where you work, you’re not immune to sustaining serious and even fatal workplace injuries. In Florida, the most dangerous jobs include:
- Fishing
- Logging
- Airplane pilot
- Farmer or rancher
- Mining machine operator
- Roofer
- Sanitation and recycling worker
- Truck drivers and delivery workers
- Industrial machine repair workers
- Police officers
If you’ve sustained a serious workplace injury, it is important to know how to navigate the workers’ compensation process in Florida. An experienced and skilled Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can help you every step of the way.
Injured on the Job? Call an Experienced Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Your Florida workers’ compensation attorney can help you through the workers’ compensation claims process, so you don’t have to stress about whether you’re making mistakes along the way. At Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A., our experienced Florida workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help you after a devastating workplace accident.
Contact Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A. online or at 561-687-5660 today for a free consultation. We offer evening and weekend appointments in our offices in Palm Beach County, Martin County, and Orlando.
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