10 Most Common On-The-Job Workplace Physical Injuries

Written by Lucas Kibby, CleanFleet

Even with many industries having various safety programs, serious workplace injuries are too common. In 2013, 4,405 workers were killed on the job while millions more suffered serious non-fatal injuries. In other words, 13 people every day in the U.S. go to work and never come home.

Of the top 10 most common workplace injuries, the majority are random incidents that can happen to anyone at any time. Not only is the employer responsible to ensure a safe work environment, employees have a responsibility to take caution when on the job.

Training, attentiveness, education, and proper safety equipment are vital to reducing workplace accidents and injuries, but when it comes to bringing workers home safe, it is not enough. Pre-employment drug testing, background checks, and pre-employment physicals help companies hire the right person for the right job.

CleanFleet can help you take your hiring process to the next level with complete policy management, drug testing, employment screening, and paperwork tracking while keeping you in compliance with local, state, and federal laws. Call the experts today at 503-479-6082 to learn more.

10 Most Common Workplace Injuries

1. Overexertion Injuries– Overexertion is the most expensive workplace injury that includes injuries related to pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing activities at work. One survey shows that 37 percent of workers sustain these musculoskeletal type injuries.
2. Slipping/Tripping– Of those surveyed, 31 percent suffered slip-and-fall injuries related to their employment. If you take a nasty spill at work and get hurt, you can potentially get workers’ comp for your injuries, even if they resulted from your own negligence. These injuries include falls on wet and slippery floors or trips over something lying on the floor. Attention to what is going on around them is required of employees and employers will have safety guidelines to ensure spills are promptly cleaned and no debris is present which can be dangerous.
3. Falling from Heights– This type of fall happens from an elevated area such as roofs, ladders, and stairways.  They can be caused by slip and fall accidents or due to faulty equipment.  These types of accidents can be reduced by the use of proper personal protection gear, training, and employee diligence.
4. Reaction Injuries– These are injuries caused by slipping and tripping without falling.  These incidents can cause muscle injuries, body trauma, and a variety of other medical issues. It can be hard to prevent such incidents but it is important for employees to pay attention to what is going on in the environment around them.
5. Falling Object Injuries– Objects that fall from shelves or dropped by another person can cause very serious injuries. Head injuries are a common result of this type of accident.
6. Walking Into Injuries– This happens when a person accidentally runs into concrete objects such as walls, doors, cabinets, glass windows, table, chairs, etc. Head, knee, neck, and foot injuries are common results.
7. Vehicle Accidents– Employees who drive for business purposes are often injured in auto accidents, some of which can be fatal.  Employee Safe-Driver training and employer safe driving policies are likely to reduce accidents. Of those surveyed, 12 percent of workers reported suffering on-the-job injuries related to car accidents.
8. Machine Entanglement– This type of injury usually occurs in a factory where heavy equipment and machinery are used. Some 17 percent of surveyed workers reported injuries related to potentially dangerous office equipment, machinery, and objects.
9. Repetitive Motion Injuries– Repetitive motions such as typing and using the computer 24/7 can strain muscles and tendons causing back pain, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome. 20 percent of workers surveyed report suffering from work-related injuries caused by repetitive.
10. On the Job Violent Acts– According to one survey, workplace violence, such as physical assault from a co-worker, is a hazard that 5 percent of workers reported experiencing. Those concerned about workplace violence should encourage their employers to take preventative measures.

Another interesting list to compare with the common workers’ compensation injuries is OSHA’s most frequently cited standards.

OSHA’s Top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2015

(October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015):

1. Fall protection, construction
2. Hazard communication standard, general industry
3. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction
4. Respiratory protection, general industry
5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry
6. Powered industrial trucks, general industry
7. Ladders, construction
8. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry
9. Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements
10. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry