Workplace injuries are more common than you might think, and this is true in Alabama. If you would like to know which are the most prevalent, read on.
Slip, Trip and Fall
Tripping on wet surfaces or over unseen objects result in back, head, and wrists becoming injured. The causes are generally poor lighting or floor coverings in poor repair. If you are diligent about taking care of clutter and being sure walking routes are safe, you have a chance to avoid this problem.
Vehicular
Deaths from work-related incidents have motor vehicle accidents at the top of the list. Because so many employers require workers to drive, collisions and single-vehicle crashes are inevitable. If you follow all the speed limits and other laws, drive defensively, and don't take chances (like frequent or abrupt lane changes), you may be okay. However, if you find yourself the victim of an accident, contact an experienced Alabama workplace injury lawyer today.
Repetitive Motion
Carpal tunnel syndrome found its claim to fame in work-related injuries. From overworking a computer mouse to using a manual screwdriver, an activity's continued repetition is very likely. This is something that can have a long-term effect on your quality-of-life.
Struck by an Object
You may think this is exclusive to construction sites and blue-collar workers, but white collars can be just as vulnerable. When exiting a plane, opening the overhead bin to retrieve your possessions can be dangerous. They always remind you that items may have shifted during flight, and they are right. Things of all shapes and weights can come tumbling down on your head or shoulders. Don’t discount hijinks. What may seem like simple fun tossing something over cubicle walls or from one work station to another can harm someone.
Overexertion
Probably the most common type of injuries, these are not the result of falling. Sometimes tripping without actually hitting the ground can result in muscle pulls or tears. This also comes from excessive lifting, pulling, carrying, throwing, pushing, and holding. Pulling a muscle can happen as an individual reacts too quickly. These are also some of the more expensive injuries to treat.
Harmful Substances
Contact with harmful substances can come through direct skin contact or through breathing. Some of these can be chlorine, stabilizers, and oxidants. Office workers can be just as vulnerable to paint, cleaning products, or other materials. These can appear as rashes, lung problems, or even cancer.
Violence
Sadly this has a real place in workplace injuries. It can be the result of conflict between coworkers, customer problems, or third parties. Most commonly, it is because of tension in the workplace. It can be as simple as office politics or arguments that got out of hand. Also, if you work alone or in a high crime area, the threat is accelerated.
Entanglement
Most common in factories or working with heavy equipment or machinery, clothing, fingers, hair, or other body parts can become caught, and bodily injury occurs.
Definition
It might be a good time to see how the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines a workplace injury. It is an occurrence during the course of work that results in physical or mental injury. So, if you are running an errand during your lunch break and are injured, it is not covered as a worker's compensation injury, even though it is during the workday. However, if that same errand was part of your employment duties, you are covered. More detail includes:
Need for medical care beyond basic first aid
Loss of consciousness
Missing time from work, needing restricted duties, or transfer to another position
Chronic, irreversible disease like cancer, fractured bones or teeth, or punctured eardrums
Fatality
As you can tell, there are many ways that someone can be injured on the job. Some factors like the type of industry or business or your employer's commitment to safety and enforcement can make the situation better or worse. The most dangerous jobs in Alabama occur in natural resources, mining, transportation, warehousing, and construction. However, that is not to say that an office place injury cannot be just as severe or debilitating.
If you have been injured in a workplace incident and are unsure about how to proceed, contact us at Spellen Law. We have extensive experience negotiating and litigating workers’ compensation cases. We are happy to arrange a convenient appointment to discuss the details of the injury and how it occurred. We will carefully review all of the information and advise you about any future actions you should take. You can even explore the other areas we can help you with, like consumer protection.