There are many professions that are strongly associated with an obvious and direct risk of falling. For example, construction workers and window washers are among those who are at increased risk for a fall when compared with the general public because their jobs may regularly require them to operate at dangerous elevations.
However, it isn’t just those who work at a significant elevation who might get hurt when they fall. Many people who work in a building with a staircase could suffer a significant fall, and people can even break bones and suffer brain injuries during a same-level fall that doesn’t involve any elevation at all. Workers in just about every profession may find that falls are a leading cause of injury on the job.
Why falls are such a major concern
People falling on the job is one of the most common causes of injury and death. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a quarter of a million workers annually miss at least one day of work due to falls, and hundreds of workers died in falls.
Most falls are preventable, which is another reason that they are such a frustrating issue in the workplace. Proper training and adherence to safety protocols would likely reduce the possibility of someone falling and getting hurt substantially.
Unfortunately, companies tend to prioritize efficiency and profitability over safety. They may fail to provide training and safety equipment, or they may place such extreme demands on their workers that the employees start breaking safety rules in an attempt to perform their jobs more efficiently.
Those rushing around are at elevated risk of slipping and falling, and businesses with overworked and stressed employees may see many maintenance tasks, like cleaning the facilities, become a lower priority to the workers than the immediate demands of manufacturing products or taking care of customers.
Fall injuries often qualify for workers’ compensation coverage
Anyone who falls on the job might require medical support and possibly time off from their job. Thankfully, workers’ compensation coverage will typically apply to a fall on the job and can provide a worker with both health coverage and disability pay while they are unable to do their job.
Learning more about job risks and workers’ compensation benefits can help people to both avoid injuries and more effectively protect their personal interests with the assistance of a legal professional if getting hurt on the job is a situation that could not be avoided for whatever reason.
