Most Common Types of Workers’ Compensation Claims

Workplace safety is a critical aspect of many businesses to keep employees safe and save the company money on workers’ compensation claims. The key is having a good safety plan and using it throughout the organization.

Even the safest companies do experience employee accidents resulting in workers’ compensation claims. Some of the most common are:

Strains and Sprains

The most common type of workers’ compensation injuries sustained at work is strains and sprains. These include any injuries that damage a muscle or connective tissue. Strains and sprains are very common in warehouse environments, manufacturing jobs, moving, transportation, etc.

A sprain is when an employee tears or stretches a ligament. Ligaments are the connective tissues around joints. The most common sprains affect the knee and ankle.

A strain is when the employee tears a muscle or tendon while doing their job. Strains most often affect the back, shoulders, or hamstrings muscles.

Some causes for strains and sprains are lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, slipping, or falling. Sometimes jobs with repetitive motion can cause a sprain or strain.

Contusions

A contusion is a bruise on some area of the body. Severe contusions may make it difficult for the employee to work. There is usually a lot of pain involved with contusions. This occurs due to the fluid buildup at the contusion site.  They occur when an employee’s body collides with a forklift, falling objects, another worker, or moving heavy equipment. Although bruises may not be serious, they may be linked to more severe injuries such as internal bleeding, crushed organs, or broken bones. Contusions usually require medical attention and sometimes x-rays. Employees should always notify their employer immediately if they suffer a contusion and seek medical help to ensure it’s nothing more serious.

Cuts and Punctures

Cuts and punctures are another common workers’ compensation issue. Employees that use tools and sharp equipment are prone to cuts and punctures. These injuries are most common in the construction industry but may also occur in manufacturing and retail. The injures typically require medical attention to avoid infection. However, minor cuts and punctures may be treated with first aid and might not require any lost work time.

Fractures

Broken and fractured bones are another prevalent workplace injury. These may occur from a wide variety of activities, including falls, equipment failure, colliding with other people or environmental hazards, falling equipment, and even traffic accidents if driving is part of their job. Fractures and broken bones are common in construction, manufacturing, delivery, and even retail if the employee climbs ladders to retrieve merchandise. The unfortunate part of these injuries is they can take months to heal and require physical therapy thereafter. As a result, sometimes the employee may not be able to work, or they may only be able to work in a limited capacity.

Other Common Workplace Injuries

Some other common workplace injuries that result in workers’ compensation claims include:

• Burns.
• Hearing loss.
• Electrical shock.
• Amputation.
• Vision loss.
• Dental injuries.
• Organ damage.
• Mental health issues, if associated with a physical injury at work
• Brain injuries.

If you have suffered a workplace injury and need help with your workers’ compensation claim, contact our office today.