The many different faces of work-related injuries
According to the National Safety Council, the following are the primary drivers of work-related injuries in the United States:
Overexertion and bodily reaction
This category includes repetitive use injuries, as well as acute injuries that involve activities like lifting, pushing, stacking, and throwing.
Slips, trips, and falls
These types of injuries are fairly obvious and can happen in most any workplace. From slipping in some spilled oil on a garage floor to tripping over a computer wire in an office, slips, trips, and falls are commonplace in the work environment.
Contact with objects and equipment
This category includes being hit by equipment, getting stuck in equipment, getting struck by flying objects, and the many other ways in which a person can become entangled in workplace equipment.
Exposure to harmful substances or environments
It used to be that this category ranked sixth on the list of the most common workplace injuries in the US, but COVID-19 shot it to the top for several years. In California alone, more than 300,000 workers’ compensation claims were filed for the respiratory illness.
Aside from the above categories, workplace violence, explosions, and transportation accidents round out the list of the more common workplace injuries.
What to do when you’re injured
As medical professionals, our first concern is your health, which is why we want you to seek our help as soon as possible after you’ve been injured or become ill on the job. Through our urgent care, we can see you promptly and make sure you get the medical help you need.
From a workers’ comp perspective, it’s important that you seek medical help within 30 days of being injured or becoming ill. If you wait longer than 30 days to get help and notify your employer, you may have problems receiving benefits.
Our team has considerable experience dealing with workers’ comp here in California, and we make sure you have what you need for your claim.
If you’ve been injured on the job, you want the right team by your side. We’re here to help. Call one of our conveniently located offices in Panorama City, Bell, or Valley Village, California, to schedule an appointment today. Or you can request an appointment online anytime.
