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Top 5 Worksite Accidents In California

Top 5 Worksite Accidents in California

Accidents at work may result in serious or even fatal injuries and illnesses. It is the duty of the employer to implement topnotch safety policies and ensure that all staff members are working in a secure environment. Although most small and big business owners in California take employee safety seriously, accidents can still happen, causing severe injuries to the unfortunate victims. Workers who get injured on the job may have to take time off from work to recover, as well as bear the expenses of medical treatment.

Thankfully, worker’s compensation insurance exists to reimburse damages caused by work-related accidents. If you were hurt in an accident at work, Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles can help you file a compensation claim or lawsuit. Believe it or not, an occupational injury happens every seven seconds, and the following are some of the most frequently occurring causes of worksite injuries in California:

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls

Although slips, trips, and falls can occur practically everywhere, the employer is liable if they occur and cause a serious injury to an employee on the job. On average, about 30,000 people suffer injuries as a result of slip, trip and fall accidents annually. Such accidents are often the result of slippery floors, jagged/uneven surfaces, clutter, spilled fluids, and unsuitable footwear among various other causes. One may deduce that most slip and trip injuries build up to premises liability claims; therefore, when these accidents happen at work, the employer is naturally responsible.

2. Falling from heights

Several occupations require personnel to work at dangerous heights; this means they can incur fatal injuries if they fall or topple down. For example, many construction workers have to work several hundred feet above ground on a daily basis. Similarly, individuals who put up billboards, clean windows of tall buildings, and repair electric power lines are also prone to falling from heights. Falls from high altitudes may lead to broken bones, traumatic head injuries, spinal damage, and other catastrophic injuries. Employees who have to work at heights on a regular basis must be armed with adequate safety equipment and training to prevent such horrific accidents.

3. Lifting heavy objects or lifting incorrectly

One of the most frequent reasons for workplace accidents in California is heavy and improper lifting. More than 50,000 workers get hurt in an attempt to move or carry a very large or weighty object every year; injuries to the shoulders, neck, and back are common. The primary reason for these accidents is lack of supervision and proper instructions for lifting techniques. Staff that is effectively administered and trained to lift heavy equipment/materials can successfully avoid these injuries.

4. Encounter with Moving or Falling Objects

Objects falling from a height or mobile equipment are another cause of many worksite injuries. These types of accidents once again are quite commonplace at construction sites. Bricks, debris, ladders, and heavy tools may fall from above and hit workers on lower levels. Similarly, mobile machinery like forklifts, cranes, and makeshift pulleys can cause accidents due to negligence, mishandling, or malfunctioning.

5. Contact with Sharp and Pointed objects

Employees surrounded by pointed or sharp objects in the workplace are susceptible to injuries like piercings, deep wounds, cuts, lacerations, and skin punctures. Many of these injuries are minor and can be dealt with first aid, but occasionally they can be serious and thus require medical attention. If you need time off from work to recover, as well as reimbursement for healthcare bills, the employer’s worker’s compensation insurance policy should have it covered.