Each seven seconds here in the United States, a worker gets hurt while on the job. That adds up to 4.7 million injured workers every year, or 12,900 a day, as reported by the National Safety Council.
Those at highest risk are younger workers who are beginning their careers. The vice president for the workers’ compensation division of Travelers Insurance observed, “More than one-quarter of injuries occur in the first year of employment.”
With approximately one-third of workers being relatively young at age 18 to 34, this puts a substantial workplace demographic group at risk. At the other end of the spectrum are those 55 and older. Many of the workers in that age group suffer strains and sprains while carrying out their work tasks.
Some workers suffer environmental injuries, like mesothelioma and black lung disease. They, too, can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for themselves and their families if illness claims their lives.
Some workers can no longer work in their chosen fields after being hurt while on the job. Those workers may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation to make them once again employable in a different industry.
Most workplace injuries don’t cause life-altering complications. In fact, some of the most common are related to improper lifting techniques and can result in contusions, sprains, strains and inflammation.
Trips, slips and falls are also common, as is colliding with something or getting struck. Less common are those injuries and accidents that involve cumulative trauma and the overuse of tools. These injuries may cause conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome over time.
Small businesses were the site of most injuries in the workplace that involved tools, but most were minor.
Remember that if you get injured on the job, you may have the right to financial compensation as well as other potential benefits.
Source: Moneywatch, “What happens every 7 seconds: A workplace injury,” accessed Feb. 23, 2018