What Are the Top 5 Workplace Injuries?

Labor statistics show that over 3,000 California workers are injured from work accidents every year. While these numbers are unacceptable, they are also not surprising since millions of Americans are seriously injured at work.

Workers can be injured no matter what industry they work in. Typical workplace injuries include serious injuries to the 

• Shoulders                                      
• Arms                             
• Knees
• Spine
• Vital organs

Workers’ compensation laws require most companies to pay for medical expenses and lost / lost wages and provide permanent or partial disability benefits. But sometimes employers and their insurance companies try to circumvent this system. or blaming someone for the injury. If you find yourself in this situation now … you need to talk to a lawyer.

Top 5 Workplace Injuries

No work is 100% safe … accidents happen. While the federal and state governments have passed laws that employers must follow to make the workplace as safe as possible … not all.

Workplace injuries can occur anywhere on the body, but here is a list of the most common work-related injuries:

Herniated discs

Spinal discs are structures that contain a jelly-like substance that sits between the vertebrae in the spine. (The disc’s act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to flex and bend.) A herniated disc occurs when some of the gel-like material seeps into the spinal canal. Putting pressure on the nerves in the spine and causing severe pain. Work that requires lifting, pulling, pushing or twisting puts workers at risk of herniated discs. This may require work interruption or, in the worst case, surgery.

Fractures / fractures of bones

Any strong blow can lead to bone fracture. Falls are the leading cause of bone fractures in the workplace. But any accident where crushing, twisting, pinching, or falling in the wrong position can result in a fracture.

Recovery from a fracture can take a long time depending on the location and severity of the fracture. In cases where bones break in different places or are visible through the skin, surgery may be required to repair the damaged tissue and install pins, plates, and screws to help stabilize the bones and speed up healing.

In the worst case, the bones can be broken so much that amputation of the injured limbs is the only medical option. According to the National Center for Occupational Safety and Health, statistics show that about 18,600 amputations in the United States were due to workplace injuries. Amputations are most commonly found in jobs that require heavy equipment, such as manufacturing, construction, agricultural trading, and transportation.

Contact workplace injury attorney by phone or via our online form for a free consultation. They are experts and know how to handle worker compensation and injury claims. And, they can help you determine what benefits you deserve, who is to blame for your injuries, and what legal action you can take. There is no fee to review your case and you don’t have to pay them anything if they don’t win your case.

Shoulder injuries

A healthy shoulder provides maximum mobility to any joint in the body; however, work-related shoulder injuries can be particularly limiting. As the shoulder is responsible for stabilizing the arms and helping them move. Most workplace activities require the use of hands, so any injury can impair the ability to work for an extended time period.

Typical shoulder injuries include damage to the rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the arm in the shoulder. An injury to the shoulder cartilage, called the upper lip, can also reduce the stability of the shoulder and arms. Resulting in pain, inability to move, and dislocations. Work that requires a lot of lifts or repetitive movements can put workers at risk of rotator cuff injuries and upper lip tears.

Knee injury

The knee is the largest joint in the body and is the easiest to injure. Knee injuries are common in sports, but they can also occur at work from a slip, fall, or joint hit. According to the latest federal statistics, 280 workers in Georgia sustained workplace injuries in 2009.

One of several major ligaments is most often affected:

Anterior cruciate ligament:

This is one of two ligaments that intersect at the center of the knee and act as a stabilizer. Any unusual twisting motion, such as falling or jumping, can injure the anterior cruciate ligament.

Medial collateral ligament:

Damage to this ligament usually occurs as a result of a direct blow to the outside of the knee. Impacts from heavy equipment are an example of how damage to the lateral medial ligament can occur during surgery.

Posterior cruciate ligament:

This ligament crosses the anterior cruciate ligament in the center of the knee and acts as a stabilizer. Injuries to this ligament are less common, but direct impact on the front of the knee can lead to injury. PCL injuries are often referred to as “dashboard injuries” because they often occur in road accidents where the lower leg is pushed back hard when struck against the dashboard.

Other types of knee injuries include:

• Meniscus tear:
  The meniscus is a hard elastic cartilage that attaches to the ligaments of the knee and acts as a shock absorber. Direct injuries in which the knee is twisted and twisted can rupture the meniscus.
• Patella Injuries:
  As long as the kneecap remains in place, you can walk, run, sit, stand, and move. If your kneecap is completely or partially dislocated, which can happen when you fall at work, you will not be able to move easily. Repairing a damaged patella can be as simple as replacing a dislocated patella with a doctor, or as difficult as surgery, according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Unfortunately, it can take weeks or months for the knees to heal; This can mean significant time away from work, high costs, and the likelihood that you will not be able to return to the same work you did before the accident.

Wrist injuries

Wrist injuries and sprains can occur at work from slipping, tripping, or falling. But serious injury to the wrist can also result from repetitive work tasks such as typing, scanning items at a cash register, or working on an assembly line. painting or using vibrating tools. The most common example of wrist injury – bumpless work – is carpal tunnel syndrome.

The carpal tunnel is the structure of the wrist that contains tendons that are used to flex and flex the fingers. The median nerve passes through this tunnel, which controls muscle movement and sensitivity in parts of the hand, especially the thumb.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tissues around the tendons become inflamed and press on the median nerve, which can cause pain, numbness, and abnormal sensations that travel up the arm and shoulder. As the disease progresses, patients may drop objects or even have difficulty holding the pencil due to weakness. Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may include a combination of medications, steroid injections, splints, and surgery.

In recent years, some employers, especially in office environments, have begun to develop ergonomic workstations that are designed to keep the wrists in a natural position while working. 

Workplace injuries at work can be very serious. If you are injured in a workplace accident. You may be eligible to receive more money than you received from a workers’ compensation claim.