October 5, 2014
Concluding our two-part blog series Workplace Fall Injuries: More Common and Costly Than You May Realize, below we will resume our discussion of the incidence and impacts of fall injuries sustained by American workers.
While the first part of this blog series took a close look at how often workplace fall injuries occur annually in the U.S., as well as what these injuries cost, here, we will focus our discussion on some of the causes of these injuries, as well as what may be done to prevent them.
Where and How Workplace Fall Injuries Usually Happen
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following are the most common factors that cause workplace fall
injuries:
- Unsafe or risky walking surfaces – Causing more than 55 percent of all workplace fall injuries, risky walking surfaces can include slippery or wet floors, uneven flooring or other issues with flooring.
- Questionable footwear choices of workers– About 1 in every 4 workplace injuries is caused, at least in part, by the questionable footwear of an employee. Footwear can be a particularly significant issue when people may work on construction sites or in other potentially treacherous areas.
- Lack of hazard warnings – In about 10 percent of all reported workplace fall injuries, the absence of some important warning sign contributed to that injury occurring. While such warning signs could be those indicating wet or slippery flooring, they may also be related to signs informing people that they should not walk in certain areas.
There are a number of other factors that can cause falling injuries, including other employees’ negligence or inattention. Regardless of the specific cause, however, people should be aware that they can obtain benefits for their medical care and lost wages by pursuing a workers’ compensation claim.
Preventing Workplace Fall Injuries
Researchers and safety experts agree that the best way to minimize the chances of workplace fall injuries is for both employers and employees to take an active role in promoting on-the-job safety. To this end, some of the specific things that can be done to minimize the risks of workplace fall injuries include (but are not exclusive to):
- Providing regular and ongoing training to workers
- Providing workers with the appropriate personal protective gear
- Posting the appropriate warning signs where there may be a particular risk of falling
- Reminding employees’ to focus on being careful as they perform their jobs day-to-day.
Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at the Bisset Law Firm
Have you suffered a fall or any type of injury at work? If so, Denver Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset wants you to know that she is here for you and is ready to advocate your rights to the full amount of workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
To learn more about how Jennifer Bisset can help you with your workers’ compensation claim, call (303) 894-8900 to set up an initial consultation and receive a professional evaluation of your case. You can also email our firm using the contact form on this page.
