Employers nationwide are required to provide a safe environment for their employees to work. But inevitably, thousands of Americans a year suffer injuries in workplace accidents. In fact, about 3 in every 100 American employees gets hurt on the job every year, and 1 in 100 needs time off work to recover. Of course, some jobs are more hazardous than others. Every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an annual report with workers’ compensation claim statistics on workplace accidents. And the most common workplace accidents might surprise you.
Which Job Reports the Most Injuries From Workplace Accidents Every Year?
Jobs in construction and mining probably come first to mind when you hear about workplace accidents. But the job that has the most workplace accidents in 2018 wasn’t either of those. The jobs that are apparently most dangerous for workers based on the number of injuries reported each year are:
- Healthcare and social assistance jobs: 544,800 workplace injuries
- Retail trade: 401,100 workplace injuries
- Manufacturing jobs: 395,300 workplace injuries
Nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, registered nurses, and paramedics are some of the most likely jobs to cause a workplace injury. Nurses, in particular, are at risk. Statistics show that 11.9% of employees at nursing and residential care facilities have reported an injury. And one in four nurses suffered an assault. Firefighters are more than 6x as likely as any other worker in the U.S. to suffer a musculoskeletal disorder injury (MSD). Examples of MSDs that qualify for workers’ comp include rotator cuff injuries, back pain, bursitis, hamstring injuries and tendonitis.
Workplace accidents can vary greatly from one another in severity. But on average, the report found most employees injured in workplace accidents needed nine days off to recover.
Most Common Injuries From Workplace Accidents That Qualify for Workers’ Comp Benefits
See the most common on-the-job injuries that qualify for workers’ compensation below.
Overexertion is also a very common reason to file a claim, which is understandable given the nature of certain jobs. Excessive physical effort such as lifting, pulling, pushing, turning, holding, or carrying can lead to injuries. Once you’re too tired to work properly, your risk for muscle injuries increase. And it can happen whether you’re on your feet all day, or sitting at a desk. Many of these claims involve back injuries from employees who lift heavy objects.
How Do Most People Get Hurt On the Job Every Year?
Below are the most common reasons cited on workplace injury claims:
- Overexertion (30.3 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers)
- Falls, slips and trips (26.6 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers)
- Contact with objects or equipment (23.3 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers)
- Violence and other injuries caused either by other people or animals (7.3 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers)
- Transportation-related accidents (5.8 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers)
Maine, Vermont and Washington have the highest number of workplace accidents that injure employees every year.
Most Common Hazards in the Workplace
Every type of workplace can be hazardous — and hazards come in many different forms. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a chart of the most common workplace hazards.
Some include:
- Safety Hazards — Spills, heights, machinery, electrical hazards, confined spaces, etc.
- Biological Hazards — Blood, fungi, bacteria, plants, insect bites, etc.
- Physical Hazards — Temperature extremes, radiation, constant loud noise, sunlight, etc.
- Ergonomic Hazards — Improperly adjusted chairs, lifting, posture, repetitive movements, etc.
- Chemical Hazards — Cleaning products, vapors and fumes, pesticides, gases, etc.
- Work Organization Hazards — Workload demands, violence, intensity, control, sexual harassment, things that cause stress, etc.
No matter where you work, workplace accidents can occur. Yes, even when employers take every effort to enforce workplace safety regulations. And when they do, injured workers must take proper steps to ensure a full recovery.
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
If either you or a loved one have a workplace accident that injures you, we can help. Reach out to an expert workers’ comp attorney today and get free legal advice. This attorney can tell you how much workers’ comp you will likely receive for your injury. If your attorney can’t win you a cash settlement, you pay $0 for legal assistance. And if you do win, then you’ll only pay a small, one-time fee.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free benefits evaluation below.
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Mandy Voisin is a freelance writer, blogger, and author of Girls of the Ocean and Star of Deliverance. As an accomplished content marketing consultant, mom of four and doctor's wife, Mandy has written hundreds of articles about dangerous drugs and medical devices, medical issues that impact disabled Americans, veterans' healthcare and workers' compensation issues since 2016.
