Exploring Common Causes of Work-Related Injury

Hundreds of thousands of workers are injured each year in the United States. While some of these injuries are minor, others are more severe. Ever since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was first created, these numbers have been on the decline. However, work-related injury remains a serious problem, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction, oil and gas, and agriculture. So, what are some of the most common causes of work-related injury?

Contact with Objects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the single most common type of work-related injury reported by employers in 2014 was contact with objects. This is somewhat of a catch-all cause that covers a wide range of injuries, including caught between, struck by an object, etc. The BLS found that nearly 24 out of every 100,000 employees were injured by contact with objects in 2014, making it the leading cause of work-related injury in the U.S.

Fall to Lower Level

The single most common cause of work-related injury was fall to lower level. OSHA and other safety organizations typically classify falls based on where they occurred: from an elevated level or same level. Elevated falls to lower levels are typically more severe, often resulting in serious injury like broken bones. As such, they've become a prime concern for employers.

Fall from Same Level

Although less severe than falls to lower level, falls from same level contribute to thousands of work-related injuries each year. It's not uncommon for workers to slip and fall while on the job. Depending on the severity of these "same level" falls, the worker may walk away unharmed. In other cases, he or she may sustain serious and debilitating injury.

Here are some tips to protect against fall injuries in your workplace:

• Clean spilled liquids in a timely manner.
• Require workers to wear non-slip shoes or footwear.
• Place rugs down on flat surfaces.
• Use signs to warn workers of slippery surfaces.
• Keep walking paths clear and free of debris.

Overexertion

Of course, overexertion is responsible for many work-related injuries as well. Some workers have a tendency to push themselves, paying little-to-no attention to their physical or mental health. Unfortunately, this results in overexertion injuries like pulled muscles and strains.

These are just a few of the most common types of work-related injury.