Common Workplace Injuries

Unfortunately, serious workplace injuries are relatively common in the United States. Statistics show that thousands of people are killed – and millions of people are injured – on an annual basis. In North Carolina, all workplace accidents that result in injury, regardless of fault, are covered by workers’ compensation.  In addition to common workplace injuries and accidents, NC workers’ compensation laws also cover diseases contracted in the workplace and other employment-related injuries.

Here are 10 of the most common workplace injuries:

1. Overwork

A lot of jobs require strenuous physical activities. As a result, a lot of workplace injuries come from overwork, or overexertion, so much so that it is the single most common workplace injury. In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from overwork are covered by workers’ compensation.

2. Slip-and-Falls

Everyday people slip or trip and fall, seriously injuring themselves.  In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from a slip or trip and fall are covered by workers’ compensation.

3. Falling from Heights

People who fall have a chance of suffering serious injuries.  Even falls from as little as 6 inches above the ground can result in serious injuries. In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from a fall are covered by workers’ compensation.

4. Injuries from Reactions to Falling

When an employee slips, but doesn’t fall, they can still be injured by trying to catch themselves, or prevent their fall.  In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from a fall, or caused by preventing a fall, are covered by workers’ compensation.

5. Injuries from Falling Objects

Objects falling on employees can cause serious injuries.  Even objects falling from as little as 6 inches can be dangerous because they often hit a worker’s head sometimes causing serious brain injuries. In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from falling objects are covered by workers’ compensation.

6. Injuries from Walking Into Things

People often hurt themselves by accidentally walking into hard and unyielding objects such as doors, tables, walls and equipment. Sometimes just bumping your knee on a table/desk, your shoulder on a door/wall, or your hand on a piece of equipment, can result in injuries that require surgery. In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from bumping into a hard and unyielding object are covered by workers’ compensation.

7. Vehicular Accident

Given the sheer number of vehicular accidents that occur on the road, it should be no surprise to learn that people who drive as part of their job are susceptible to such accidents and injuries. Unfortunately, regardless of how good a driver you are, there is no way to guard against other drivers on the road. In North Carolina, most all employees who are injured while driving for work have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, and possibly a claim against the other driver. Even if the car accident was your fault, or if there were no other cars involved, you can still get workers’ compensation benefits.

8. Machine Entanglement

Machine entanglement injuries happen when body parts (hair, fingers, hands, arms, feet, legs, etc.) get caught in machinery. Protective equipment and policies can help, but we often see workers injured by machinery where proper equipment was not provided, safe guards were removed, safety stops were nonexistent, or lockout procedures were not followed.  Regardless of how these injuries occurred and regardless of who was at fault, in North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from machine entanglement are covered by workers’ compensation.

9. Repetitive Motion

Many jobs involve repetitive motions such as assembly line work, or even office work. Repetitive motion can put cumulative strain on the same muscles and tendons over and over, causing serious medical conditions to develop. In North Carolina, most all workplace injuries resulting from repetitive motion are covered by workers’ compensation.

10. Workplace Violence

Unfortunately, as we all know, workplace violence is a problem in the United States.  Disagreements with other employees at work can sometimes lead to physical injuries, even death, when one employee assaults another.  Sometimes the victim of workplace violence is an innocent bystander injured by a disgruntled employee who is lashing out at the employer.  In North Carolina, most all injuries resulting from workplace violence are covered by workers’ compensation.

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