In Raleigh, NC, workplace injuries are a critical concern, with construction sites reporting the highest cases of workplace accidents. Despite strict safety regulations and efforts by different stakeholders to make workplaces safer, these injuries remain unpleasant realities for workers in Raleigh. The type of injuries that one can sustain and their subsequent impact vary considerably depending on the nature of the accident. With the help of a workers’ comp attorney in Raleigh, victims of workplace accidents can seek compensation from liable parties. Here are the different types of injuries a person may sustain at the workplace in Raleigh, NC.
A.) Cuts and Lacerations
The use of sharp objects, machinery, or tools is common in many workplaces, something that makes cuts a common form of workplace injury. Some cuts and lacerations injuries can be minor, while others can be severe, at times requiring emergency medical services.
B.) Musculoskeletal Injuries
These are injuries that affect joints, muscles, and bones. The most common types of injuries under this category include:
- Joint injuries that result from repetitive movements
- Back injuries due to heavy lifting
- Sprains, which result from slips or falls
Although these injuries are common in the construction and manufacturing industries, they can also be prevalent in office settings. For example, slippery or unfinished floors, which are a common cause of slips or falls are a risk in any industry.
C.) Burns
Burn injuries result from having direct contact with flames, steam, harmful chemicals, or hot surfaces. Manufacturing industries and some scientific research settings where hot materials or chemicals are handled have the highest risk of burn injuries. The severity of burns depends on how hot the flame or steam is, how harmful the chemical is, or the duration of contact.
D.) Fractures
These forms of severe injuries that are more prevalent in construction and the transportation sector are a result of two types of accidents:
- Falls
- Accidents involving machinery or blunt force
The presence of heavy machinery and the nature of physical activities at construction sites make them the prime risk zones for fractures in a type of workplace injury.
E.) Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)
Common in office settings, RSIs are a type of injury that occurs as a result of prolonged exertion of a specific part of the body or repetitive motion. For example, repetitive motions in the use of a mouse or typing, commonly lead to a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome.
F.) Head injury
Strikes by falling objects, collisions, and falls, which are common at construction sites, are the prime causes of head injuries. Head injuries range from mild concussions to severe brain injuries requiring specialized medical attention. Unlike other forms of injuries, whose impact manifests almost immediately, the impacts of head injuries sometimes manifest much later.
G.) Hearing loss
Temporary or permanent loss of hearing is a common injury among workers whose work environment exposes them to prolonged loud music while lacking appropriate hearing protection. Music and entertainment, construction, and manufacturing industries have the highest risk index of hearing loss as a form of injury.
Why do you need to understand these types of injuries?
Seeking compensation after a workplace accident is a complex process, often involving legal battles to prove the liable party’s negligence. The ability to launch a compensation claim for the injuries sustained depends on your understanding of injuries for which you are entitled to compensation. These form part of your rights and entitlements in a workplace accident case. Failure to recognize these injuries and understand your rights is a gateway to getting unfair compensation or failing to get any compensation at all when you sustain injuries at a workplace.
Conclusion
There is a wide range of injuries that a person can sustain at a workplace in different industries. The common injuries include cuts and lacerations, burns, musculoskeletal injuries, fractures, head injuries, hearing loss, and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). Knowledge of these different types of injuries is key to seeking compensation from liable parties after a workplace accident.
