Stephen Hasner | Workers' Compensation | May 16, 2018
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the number of workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities each year and reports on the most dangerous jobs in the United States. The most recent report included the following professions:
- Roofers
- Aircraft pilots
- Flight engineers
- Steel and iron workers
- Recycling and trash collectors
- Loggers
- Fishermen
- Truck drivers
- Construction workers and supervisors
- Extraction workers (mining and oil rigs)
- Ranchers and farmers
- Grounds maintenance workers
Working in any of these industries involves a high risk of serious or even fatal injuries each day you go to work.
Moreover, workers in seemingly safe industries may also be at risk of job-related injuries or illness. Many jobs have higher risks of injuries than you may expect. For example, you may think that an office may be a relatively safe place to work. However, office workers can slip and fall, suffer repetitive strain injuries from typing, sustain back injuries from non-ergonomic chairs, and more. In addition, some office workers may suffer from stress-related illnesses.
Even working in a hospital can be dangerous. When you think of a hospital, you likely think of a place where people go to recover from illnesses and injuries – not somewhere you could get hurt. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 58,860 injuries and illnesses to hospital workers across the U.S. that caused them to miss work in a single year—more than either the construction or manufacturing industries! Common injuries to hospital workers include:
- Overexertion injuries
- Bodily reaction injuries
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Contact with harmful objects
- Violence from patients or visitors
- Infections and toxic exposure
It may be second nature for a nurse to lift a heavy patient to administer a shot or check their status, but this exposes hospital workers to sprains, strains, and other injuries usually associated with heavy lifting.
Other workplaces with high risks of injury are bakeries and industrial kitchens, which have many dangerous utensils and ovens heating the area. Some commercial kitchens can reach 120 degrees at times. Many bakers and cooks work long hours, without rest breaks or even making sure they get adequate water. Exhaustion, dehydration, and overexertion are common, alongside cuts and burns.
No matter what job you hold, there is likely the risk of some type of illness or injury. Your employer should carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides a safety net for financial compensation if you are injured. Filing a claim and receiving benefits for medical bills and lost income is not always a simple process. Often your employer and the workers’ compensation insurer make it difficult and complex to obtain the benefits you need to recover. If you have been injured on the job, you should not hesitate to enlist the help of a skilled workers’ compensation attorney.
Consult With an Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Hasner Law PC Today
The team at Hasner Law PC assists people in all different occupations with the workers’ compensation process. Whether you need help filing a claim or have received a denial, you should discuss your situation with an Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney today.
For more information, please contact the Atlanta workers’ compensation law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
