Workplace Accident

On the job injuries are unfortunately very commonplace and happen to people in all different kinds of professions. According to the informational website Workers-comp-news.com, more than 4.1 million people in the United States suffer from a workplace-related injury or illness each year, and more than 2 million endure severe enough injuries that they are forced to miss work and need ongoing medical care. In order to increase awareness of occupation-related injuries among U.S. workers, the following is a list of four of the most common injuries-at-work so individuals can try to avoid them:

1. Lifting Injuries: Any worker is at risk for a lifting injury, but those who work in manufacturing and transportation jobs may be at the highest risk. Lifting injuries can cause severe back and muscle pain, and nearly a third of all workplace injuries are the result of lifting, which can cause musculoskeletal disorders.
2. Falls from Heights: Falls are one of the most common workplace injuries and a leading cause of work-related deaths, particularly among workers in mining, construction, and agricultural fields. Falls often result in painful sprains, strains, or tears, and can cause head injuries, knee injuries, fractures, and broken bones.
3. Automobile Accidents: Any person who uses a vehicle for work is at risk for a job-related auto accident, such as a pizza delivery person getting into an accident during delivery. Most may find it surprising that automobile accidents are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the U.S.
4. Heavy Equipment: Numerous jobs, such as in the construction or manufacturing fields, require employees to use heavy equipment, which can be very dangerous if not properly maintained or used.

Being aware of some of the more common on-the-job injuries that can happen to employees around the country can certainly may help you avoid a dangerous accident and painful injuries. However, if an employer fails to maintain a safe working environment for employees or properly educate workers on how to stay safe, he or she can be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result. The Annapolis work injury attorneys of Alpert Schreyer can help injured workers in MD obtain compensation for their injuries to help recover from an on-the-job accidents. Please call (800) 489-1577 for a complimentary consultation.

Workplace accidents cost employers billions of dollars each year and leave employees with severe injuries that cause discomfort, pain, loss of mobility and other complications. Employees and managers should work together to prevent these accidents.

Create a workplace safety committee to address issues related to employee safety and workplace hazards. The safety committee should have at least one employee representative to ensure employee interests are represented during meetings.

Conduct regular safety inspections to identify hazards before they cause an accident. Look for loose flooring, slippery surfaces, broken equipment and other hazards. Repair any identified hazards immediately.

Train employees in the proper use of cleaning fluids and other chemicals. Improper use of these chemicals can cause slip and fall accidents, chemical burns, fires and other workplace incidents.

Maintain a fully stocked first aid kit for employees. The kit should include adhesive bandages, gauze, disinfecting wipes, cloth tape, packets of antibiotic ointment, aspirin, non-latex gloves, scissors, tweezers, a thermometer, a blanket and a cold compress. If employees regularly operate company vehicles, ensure that each vehicle has a first aid kit.

Engage employees in accident prevention and safety initiatives. Implement a rewards program related to workplace safety. This type of program will encourage employees to take proper safety precautions instead of rushing to get the job done.

Even when employees follow all of these safety precautions, accidents still happen. In some cases, third party (contractors, sub-contractors, managers, product manufacturers, etc.) negligence leads to accidents and causes workers years of pain and suffering. Injured workers and their families also face significant medical bills and the harsh reality of lost wages. An experienced Maryland workplace accident attorney at Alpert Schreyer, LLC may be able to help injured workers and their families seek the compensation they deserve from negligent third parties. If you or a loved one have been injured in a workplace accident, call Alpert Schreyer, LLC at 301-932-9997. All information will be kept confidential.

A Hampstead, Maryland man lost his life in a workplace accident recently. The man, who was moving pallets of books in a warehouse belonging to publisher Random House, died when the forklift he was driving crashed into a shelving unit.

Both fellow employees and firefighters from the Westminster fire department tried to rescue the man, who was pinned between the forklift and the shelving. When rescuers finally reached the man, unfortunately, they found that he had died in the accident. His body was taken to the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The warehouse worker had been an employee at Random House for nearly two years.

Both police and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) are investigating the accident. MOSH is seeking to discover the cause of the accident, including any person or company who may have been responsible, and to prevent similar accidents from harming anyone in the future. Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office is investigating as a matter of procedure; police routinely investigate any death in Maryland unless a physician was present, such as when a person dies in a hospital of illness, injury, or age.

Workplace accidents in Maryland can cost a worker and his or her family a great deal in medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Maryland’s workers’ compensation laws protect some of these families by providing payments to injured workers. An experienced Maryland workplace accident attorney like those at Alpert Schreyer may also be able to determine if any third parties were responsible and help injured persons and their families seek compensation from negligent third parties.

If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, please don’t hesitate to call the Maryland job injury lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC. Call 301-932-9997 today for a confidential consultation.