Getting injured at work can be a very stressful and frustrating situation to be in. One of the most common ways to get injured at work is by suffering from a fall. Having a fall can lead to many different complications, such as broken bones, spinal injury and head trauma. If you need time to recover, you can additionally suffer lost wages.
Fortunately, there are protections in place for workers who are injured on the job. Workers’ compensation covers the medical costs and makes contributions toward lost wages in most situations. In order for a worker to be able to claim workers’ compensation, he or she must be able to show that the injury he or she suffered was directly caused by work activities.
What are the main hazards that cause falls in the workplace?
An unsafe environment is a big contributor in the frequency of falls in the workplace. Many workers suffer falls in areas that are slippery, cluttered or wet. Unprotected edges can also be a common cause. In construction sites, unsafely positioned and faulty ladders, as well as badly constructed scaffolding, can cause very serious falls.
Often, especially in workplaces such as construction sites, fall protection can be in place. However, if this is faulty or malfunctions, this can lead to an even more serious fall.
Prevention is key when it comes to workplace falls, and that is always the employer’s responsibility. If you have been injured due to a fall in the workplace, it is important that you take action so that you can get the workers’ compensation that you deserve.
Source: CDC, “Falls in the workplace,” accessed March 02, 2018