According to Airbill, a company responsible for providing safety training and protective equipment, 4,405 American workers were killed on the job in 2013 and millions more suffered debilitating injuries.
In other words, 13 Americans go to work each day and never come home.
Below are ten of the most common workplace injuries responsible for shocking statistics like these:.
- Overexertion caused by pushing, pulling, lifting, holding or carrying can cause serious debilitating injuries.
- Slipping and tripping. This number two cause of workplace injury often occurs while working on wet surfaces or on construction sites where tools or materials are left in the wrong area.
- This type of dangerous incident can occur often when workers are on roofs, stairways and ladders. It often happens from slip and falls, or faulty equipment.
- Reaction injuries. Body trauma such as muscle injuries or broken bones occur when an employee slips or trips but tries to refrain from falling.
- Falling objects. Objects falling from high places or when another employee accidentally drops an object from up high can be dangerous.
- Walking into things. This can occur when an employee accidentally walks into concrete objects such as walls, cabinets, chairs, tables and glass.
- Vehicle accidents. Many employees who drive for business have suffered automobile accidents that can lead to serious injury or death.
- Machine entanglement. This happens wherever machines are being used, most commonly factories. A worker’s clothes, fingers, shoes or hair can become entangled and can cause serious injury.
- Repetitive motion injuries. This is one of the least obvious injuries but can cause serious issues. For example, repetitive motions such as typing or constant computer usage can cause carpel tunnel, vision problems and back strain.
- Violent acts. These are injuries suffered due to arguments and disagreements that happen on the job.
Proper employee training, diligence and adequate safety equipment and protective gear can eliminate many of these workplace injuries.