What are some common types of workplace injuries?

Workplace accidents can be serious for injured workers and their families. They can set injured workers back with injuries and medical bills while they are unable to work. For that reason, injured workers should understand their workers’ compensation options and the different types of workers’ compensation benefits available to them.

Examples of common types of workplace injuries include:

  • Musculoskeletal injuries – a survey conducted of the most common types of workplace injuries found that one in three workers sustained musculoskeletal injuries on the job. These types of injuries result from overexertion, heavy lifting, typing and other tasks.
  • Slip-and-fall injuries – of those included in the survey, 31% suffered slip-and-fall injuries on the job.
  • Repetitive motion injuries – of those surveyed, 20% reported suffering repetitive stress injuries related to the workplace. Examples of repetitive motion injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Injured by machinery or struck by an object – of those included in the survey, 17% reported injuries related to machinery, dangerous office equipment or other objects. These types of injuries can be caused by improper use or maintenance of equipment.
  • Motor vehicle accidents – of surveyed workers, 12% reported suffering car accident injuries on the job. Car accident injuries that occurred while on the clock and within the scope of the worker’s employment may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
  • Burn injuries – approximately 3% of workers surveyed had sustained heat or chemical burns at work. Burns that can occur in the workplace can include thermal burns, electrical burns and chemical burns.

Workers who have suffered one, or several, of these types of workplace injuries may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits to help with their medical expenses and lost earnings while they are recuperating and recovering from their injuries. For that reason, injured workers need to be familiar with workers’ compensation benefits and how to obtain them.