When New Yorkers head to work, each industry faces unique challenges in the form of injuries and risks. While some industries are obviously more dangerous, even office workers can get hurt by repetitive actions or unexpected accidents. When it comes to an injury in the workplace, you should learn about what to avoid, when to report and when to hire a work injury lawyer.
What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 129,000 nonfatal accidents and illnesses in the state in 2020. This is a rate of 2.2 accidents or injuries for every 100 full-time workers. While this rate is statistically lower than other states in the country, any injury or illness costs the employee money, mental energy and productivity. Workplace accidents can even lead to long-term disabilities and death in the most tragic situations.
The United States Department of Labor has a division specifically devoted to workplace safety, known as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration . This office sets standards for workers that employers must meet to keep them safe and healthy on the job. When an employer violates those standards, injury and death often occur. The office reported that most accidents were due to the following violations in different industries:
- Falls in construction
- Respiratory protection
- Construction ladders
- Communication hazards
- Construction scaffolding
- Fall protection training
- Control of hazardous materials
- Face and eye protection
- Powered industrial trucks
- Machine guarding and machinery
These statistics highlight the fact that some industries are more dangerous than others, as 20% of the injuries occurred within the construction industry. To combat and minimize these risks, an employer should maintain equipment and safety gear, train workers regularly on updated standards and uphold those standards on the worksite.
While these are the most common violations, the accident often translates into a different type of injury for the person. This is where reality hits and workers must determine how to move forward. Some of the most common workplace injuries reported are:
- Falling objects
- Electrocution
- Slip and falls
- Ladder accidents
- Vehicle accidents
- Scaffolding accidents
You do not have to be in a dangerous environment to get injured on the job. Those who work in an office setting are also at risk for some common injuries that can affect their ability to work. The most common office injuries include the following:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Cuts
- Repetitive strain injury
- Crashes
- Weight-relates issues
- Loud noise exposure
- Toxic fumes
Not only do these injuries cost the employee in terms of pain and medical bills, but the employer also suffers, as workplace injuries lead to more than 4.5 million lost work days across the country each year.
The Most Dangerous Industries to Work In
Workplace injuries and accidents are bad enough, but true tragedy steps in when someone dies on the job. In these situations, the family may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim. Before picking a career or job, consider the following most dangerous industries to work in.
The statistics highlight the fact that in any industry, transportation is dangerous. Many accidents and deaths occur on the road.
Logging
America’s most dangerous job is logging. Most fatal accidents in this industry occur when there is dangerous contact with equipment or other objects. This creates a fatality rate that is 33 times the nationwide average.
Flight Engineers and Aircraft Pilots
The second most dangerous job in America is in the aviation industry. Most commonly, workers die during transportation accidents. Private aircraft account for most of the fatalities, not commercial jets or flights.
Oil, Gas and Mining
As oil workers maintain, setup and operate derricks to extract oil and gas, they are often injured through contact with equipment and objects and in transportation accidents.
Roofing
The roofing industry has a high rate of fatality and injury, and most deaths are attributed to slips, falls and trips. Most commonly, roofers fall off ladders and roofs they are working on.
Garbage Collecting
Garbage collectors are also at a higher risk of injury or death on the job, most often in transportation accidents.
Should You Hire a Work Injury Lawyer?
In a perfect world, employers would take responsibility for accidents caused by safety standard violations and insurance companies would cover the costs for employees to recover and get back on their feet. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and there are times where a work injury lawyer may help you get more compensation for your injury or illness. There are a few warning signs to watch for after you are hurt on the job.
If your insurance carrier or employer denies that your injury happened at work, you may need extra help. There are times when you have a slight injury that does not slow you down right away. As you continue to work, you aggravate the injury, and it becomes serious. An employer may try to say that your injury did not occur at work simply because it developed over time.
If you feel your claim is taking too long to process, you may want to speak to an attorney. If the injury occurs on the job, immediately notify a supervisor and file a report. Every company has access to the correct paperwork, and you can file a claim with the state’s workers’ compensation board. While states differ in their processes, you should see compensation within 30 days. If this is not the case, it may be time to get help.
Some injuries make it impossible to return to work. When you suffer a permanent disability on the job, total or partial, you may need insurance coverage to pay the bills. There are times where insurance companies will deny these claims because they tend to be more expensive.
If you have an injury, it is important that you see a health care professional and get the treatment you need to return to full capability. If you see a doctor who recommends a treatment and the insurance company refuses to pay for it, there may be a problem. A lot of workplace injuries require long-term treatment like physical therapy, and insurance companies may balk at verifying these claims.
If you obtain a settlement from an insurance company and it does not cover all your costs, you may benefit from hiring a work injury lawyer. Insurance companies can disagree with the injury rating given by your doctor, and a lawyer may increase your rating in front of a judge.
Those who have a preexisting condition are in a unique position. If you started a job and already had problems with your back, the insurance company may claim that the preexisting injury causes the increased pain when it was actually caused by your current job. An attorney can help you obtain evidence to prove otherwise.
Where Should You Turn?
Workplace injuries and deaths are traumatic because you rely on the company for income. It may seem as if suddenly, through no fault of your own, the people you work with have turned on you. In these cases, it is important that you take care of yourself and think of your future, no matter what you are offered. Contact us today if you got hurt on the job, and we can discuss your case and what is your best plan for a solid, healthy future.