If you suffer an injury while working, a number of challenges could arise. In addition to high levels of pain, you could face financial hardships due to the inability to work as well as medical costs. Sometimes, work-related injuries make it impossible to return to one’s former position, and finding employment in a new field is often challenging in the wake of a debilitating injury. Occupational injuries also cause many workers to struggle with emotional issues such as anxiety or depression.
Employers and workers should go over data on this issue and take steps to reduce the chances of an accident occurring on the job.
Statistics on occupational injuries and illnesses
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that during 2020, more than 2.6 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses impacted private sector workers. Over 1.1 million of these cases resulted in the inability to work, with a median of 12 days of missed work. In 2020, slips, falls and trips accounted for over 211,000 of these cases, back injuries represented over 128,000 and strains, sprains and tears made up more than 266,000 cases.
Some workplace accidents prove fatal, and more than 4,000 workers lost their lives due to job-related accidents in 2020.
Recovering from an accident on the job
Following a work-related accident, it is pivotal to focus on your options and look into resources that could help restore normalcy in your life. Workers’ compensation offers various benefits that assist injured workers, whether they need training to work in a different field or they need financial assistance with lost wages and medical bills. You should review the details of your workplace accident and if you believe that you are eligible for workers’ comp, carefully approach the application process.
