Most people think to pursue a Workers’ Compensation claim only if they are injured during a “dangerous job” such as construction and logging, but no occupation is immune. In fact, some of the most common Workers’ Compensation claims occur in the office such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back problems. Here are the top five most commonly-reported work injuries reported by the nation’s leading insurance companies.
- Overexertion Injuries: The number one workplace injury is overexertion injuries. Overexertion injuries include those related to lifting, holding, pushing, pulling, and carrying. Although overexertion can occur on any job, there are some jobs that have a higher risk. Construction workers, warehouse workers, delivery drivers, package handlers, and anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet is at risk of overexerting their back, neck, or other muscles.
- Slip and Fall Injuries: The number two cause of work-related injuries is slip and fall accidents. In fact, slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury overall, not just in the workplace. Slip and fall injuries are quite common and can occur in any industry.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI’s): The third most common workplace injury are RSI’s. RSI’s are injuries that occur from continuous motion day in and day out. Common repetitive motion injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis, trigger finger, rotator cuff syndrome, epicondylitis (often called tennis elbow), lower back pain, and more. These injuries often occur in occupations that involve computer use.
- Entanglement: The fourth most common workplace injury is entanglement. An entanglement accident occurs when a worker entangles their clothing or one of their body part fingers in machinery. This can lead to serious injury such as losing one or more fingers or toes. These injuries often occur in factory workers or any other occupation that uses heavy machinery.
- Falls from Heights: The fifth most common workplace injury is falling from heights. These injuries often occur in construction jobs but can occur in many different industries/scenerios such as truck drivers who have fallen from the top of their vehicle.
- Reaction Injuries: The sixth most common workplace injury is reaction injuries. Reaction injuries are injuries that occur when someone slips and trips but does not fall. For instance, when a worker steps onto a wet floor surface and feels as though they may fall, they can actually cause themselves an injury just by reacting. A reaction injust can affect nearly any area of the body but are most common in the limbs, neck, and back. Reaction injuries on the job are quite common whether you are working in a warehouse or in an office job.
If you have been injured at work, the skilled legal team at Ellis & Associates can help. We have been protecting the rights of MA workers for more than 65 years, and we have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients. Don’t go through this difficult time alone, we can help. Contact contact Ellis & Associates at 1-800-Mr. Ellis for a free and confidential consultation about your case.