With billions of dollars in claims being filed every year from workplace injuries – through both state workers’ compensation and private insurance companies – on-the-job safety practices cannot be emphasized strongly enough. Construction jobs are always high on the list of dangerous occupations, even though construction sites are not the only places where workers can be seriously injured or killed.

1. Most Common
WORKPLACE INJURIES
With billions of dollars in claims being filed every year from workplace injuries – through both state
workers’ compensation and private insurance companies – on-the-job safety practices cannot be
emphasized strongly enough. Construction jobs are always high on the list of dangerous
occupations, even though construction sites are not the only places where workers can be seriously
injured or killed.
Below are the most-reported workers’ comp injuries, according to top insurance companies in
the U.S.

2. Construction’s “Fatal Four”
Part 1
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
identified four of the most common injuries found on construction sites. They
are:
 Electrical hazards – Working with wires and cables makes electrocution
very likely. Coming into contact with electricity can cause severe burns,
shocks, fires, even explosions. OSHA says there are around 70 deaths
each year due to electrocution accidents on the job.
 Fall dangers - Falls that happen from elevated areas such as roofs, ladders
and scaffolding may be caused by negligent or careless human behavior
and/or faulty equipment.

3. Construction’s “Fatal Four”
Part 2
 Struck-by injuries - Objects that fall from shelves, scaffolding, and elevated
areas, or are dropped/fall from heights can produce very serious injuries.
Falling objects often cause injuries to the head or neck. In addition to
construction sites, these risks are found in office buildings and warehouses
 Caught-in or –between - This refers to a worker who gets partially or
entirely trapped, squeezed, or stuck between two objects (equipment, parts
of machine, vehicles, etc.). On average, there are at least 21 deaths
annually that result from “caught between” hazards, in addition to a
significantly large number of severely injured victims.

4. Other Injuries
Repetitive Motion
Actions such as typing and long hours in front of a
computer can strain muscles and tendons and cause
back pain, vision problems, and cumulative trauma
disorder. Any repetitive action – especially lifting/turning
– can cause severe, painful harm which sometimes can
become chronic.

5. Vehicle Crashes
Employees who drive for business purposes, such as
salespeople or delivery drivers, are consistently at risk
for being injured in a crash, suffering injuries that can be
serious, and even fatal. Additionally, on job sites, slow-
moving mobile work vehicles -- such as forklifts, earth
movers, bulldozers and cranes – can be involved in
construction site or warehouse accidents that cause
serious injuries.

6. “Walking Into” Injuries
When a person unintentionally walks into a
stationary object (such as walls, doors,
machinery, glass windows, furniture, stacks of
lumber, cinderblock or steel) on any job site,
serious head, knee, neck, and foot injuries are
not uncommon.

7. Reaction Injuries
These are caused by slipping and/or tripping, but
without falling. Most of the time these slip/trip but
no-fall accidents can leave the victim with muscle
or ligament injuries, body trauma, back injuries
and a variety of other painful medical issues.

8. Slips and Falls
Just as on construction sites, dangerous conditions in
offices and warehouses can lead to a sudden, harmful
slip and fall. This could include torn carpeting, sudden
changes in floor surfaces, poor lighting, a wet/slippery
walking surface, or unanticipated obstacles in your path.
Injuries can include broken bones, sprains, back or neck
injuries, concussions and even TBI (traumatic brain
injury).

9. Overexertion Injuries
Pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and
throwing at work can lead to a variety of serious
injuries; they account for approximately $13.6
billion in workers’ compensation benefits every
year.

10. Violence in the Workplace
Attacks caused by office relationships, or
physical conflicts which are centered in any
interpersonal disagreement, can lead to
physical confrontations. Some of these more
vicious conflicts can lead to traumatic injuries
and, in some cases, even death.

11. On-the-Job Safety
Workplace accidents are unplanned, unanticipated and unwelcome
events that hinder any organization or project. In addition to the
victims, who can be laid-up for days, weeks, or even months, they
also may damage property and cause the victim's family to
experience financial distress.
All accidents are preventable. Employers who see the financial and
human resources benefits in keeping a safe workplace invest time
and money in employee safety and training.

12. If You’ve Been
INJURED ON THE JOB
At Kaplan Lawyers PC, our workplace accident attorneys will fight to enforce your
rights and get you the help that you need. The consultation is free, and we
charge no fee unless we win your case. Contact us today to get started.