When you go to work every day, you may expect whatever day it is to be much the same as the previous workday. While your individual projects and assignments may vary, the type of work you do remains the same, and depending on where you work, your risk for injury may be very low or high.
It’s always good to stay updated on safety information and practice good habits to avoid injury while you work. If an accident occurs, your injuries may keep you laid up for quite some time, perhaps causing you to lose income. That’s one of the main reasons the workers’ compensation program exists: to help replace lost wages while injured workers recover at home or in the hospital. Sometimes, complications arise as you navigate the claims process. If that happens, it’s good to know where to turn for support.
Jobs with highest injury risks
If your regular workplace duties include fishing industry tasks or you work in the logging field, you are among those in the nation at greatest risk for on-the-job injuries. The jobs included in the following list often have an association with accidents and injury:
- Pilots, as well as flight engineers, apparently suffered injuries in 2016 at a rate of more than 50 per 100,000 workers.
- Roofers face the obvious height risk associated with their work. However, accidents also often occur regarding climbing up and down ladders or using scaffolding.
- Construction work is always dangerous, as it not only places workers themselves at risk for injury, but pedestrians must act with caution as well, whenever passing near a construction project area.
- Factory workers often use heavy machinery and chance exposure to chemicals or asbestos, all of which carry potential risk for injury and illness.
- Farmers, ranchers and steelworkers also have duties that often lead to injury.
- If, at any time during your workday, you drive a commercial vehicle, you are among those who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation.
Even if you work behind a desk in an office, there is no guarantee against workplace injuries. In fact, there’s an entire category of injuries known as repetitive strain injuries that develop over time from holding the same posture or performing the same tasks for extended periods of time.
Your highest priority is to obtain appropriate medical attention if you’re involved in a workplace accident or suffer injury on the job. Hopefully, with rest and proper care, you will enjoy a swift and full recovery and be able to return to your duties. That’s not always how it goes, though, especially when injuries are moderate to severe. In such situations, many Louisiana workers reach out for support to file workers’ compensation claims.
