You might think the most costly workplace injuries would be the most dramatic. While that could be true for specific incidents, everyday injuries among the workforce cost employers the most overall.
A recent report by Liberty Mutual Insurance ranked the top ten causes of workplace injuries in terms of their total cost to employers over a year. Their criteria for injuries was anything preventing someone from working for at least five days, so that captured everything from relatively minor injuries to the most serious.
These 10 injuries cost employers over $1 billion per week
Here are the results of the report:
- Overexertion: For example, lifting a box that is too heavy
- Same-level falls: Typically due to a slippery or uneven surface
- Falls from heights: These can be devastating when they happen
- Struck-by incidents: You could get hit by a falling box or the arm of a digger
- Awkward postures: Poor layout can increase the need to bend or stretch into awkward positions
- Vehicle crashes: These can happen on the road, in a warehouse or loading bay
- Slipping, tripping but not falling: You can put your back out even if you do not hit the deck
- Collisions: Moving too fast could cause you to bump into something you did not notice
- Caught in machinery: Ensure machinery is off before cleaning or maintaining it
- Repetitive motion injuries: Those who work on an assembly line, at a keyboard or checkout often suffer
Most employers hold workers’ compensation insurance, so the cost of these injuries does not come directly from their pockets. Yet, the more accidents that occur, the higher insurance premiums will become. If employers invested more in improving workplace safety, it might save them money in the long term.
If you’re injured at work, you deserve the personal attention of local attorney Steven Morgan. Having someone who cares about your case and handles it with the personal attention you deserve will increase your chance of getting the compensation you need to provide for your family. Contact the office online or call 912-289-0640 to schedule a consultation.
