When you think about falls on the job, you might think about construction workers, roofing professionals, windmill technicians or even window washers. It is certainly true that those who work at an elevation have an increased risk of falling and suffering severe injuries on the job, but you don’t have to work at a significant height for a fall to lead to time off of work.
According to statistics about injuries on the job, falls remain one of the leading causes of lost time incidents in many industries, responsible for about $70 billion in losses every year. Even falls from a standing position at the same level as where someone lands could lead to major claims.
Falls can break bones, damage soft tissue or lead to brain injury
People who fall might just bruise their tailbone or their knees when they hit the ground. They could also break a bone, ranging from their arm (if they try to catch themselves) to their hip. Older adults are at a particularly high risk of having a major fracture as the result of a fall on the job, which is one reason why falls represent such a large number of lost-time incidents at work.
Someone could also suffer soft tissue or connective tissue injury in a fall that forces them to take a few weeks off of work while their body heals. Brain injuries could also be possible if someone hits their head on the floor or anything else during a fall.
Someone affected by a fall on the job may need the file a claim for workers’ compensation insurance for both medical care and any leave of absence they must take because of their injuries. Recognizing how even minor workplace accidents can lead to Big injuries can help you pursue the benefits you need.