How dangerous is your job? All occupations have risks. However, if you perform physical labor, work with machinery, work with chemicals or work at elevated heights, you are at increased risk for serious injuries on the job.
This may not be a surprise to you, but it is important to understand the dangers you face at work. If you know the most frequent causes of injuries, you may be able to protect yourself.
Know the hazards you face
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that as of January 2016, the most common safety standards OSHA inspectors cite are:
- Lack of fall protection, including on ladders and scaffolds
- Failure to communicate hazards regarding chemicals, toxins, drugs and particles
- Lack of respiratory protective gear and procedures
- Unsafe lockout/tagout procedures for machinery
- Lack of guards on machines
- Unsafe electrical wiring and equipment installation/maintenance
- Failures in fire safety, maintenance and use near toxins of powered industrial trucks
Some of the occupations most likely to face these safety hazards include construction, demolition, painting, roofing, factory and warehouse work, assembly line work, meat and poultry processing, truck driving, electrician and lab work.
Workers’ compensation and personal injury compensation
If you suffer an injury because of these types of safety violations, you can apply for workers’ compensation. In many of these cases, however, you may have a second source of compensation.
Defective machines or safety equipment, unsafe scaffolds, improper electrical wiring, failure to communicate with contractors and other employers onsite: these are all cases that may involve a negligent third party that is not your employer. When a work accident, injury or illness is the result of negligence by a third party, you can seek more financial compensation in a personal injury suit.
An experienced work accident lawyer can discuss your case and tell you if you can seek additional compensation from a third party.
