When you clock in at work, you look forward to doing what you love and a fair day’s pay so you can return home to be with your loved ones. Unfortunately, workplace injuries happen. And while some may not warrant hospital admission, others can be life-altering.
If you or someone you love sustains catastrophic injuries following a workplace accident, it is important that you seek medical attention right away. Next, you need to pursue the financial restitution you deserve through your employer-sponsored workers’ compensation scheme. But how do catastrophic injuries happen at work?
Here are the top two causes of catastrophic injuries at work:
Slips and falls
Slips and falls from stairs, scaffolds and ladders or upper falls like rooftops are some of the leading causes of catastrophic injuries among warehouse and construction site workers. Most fall injuries are attributable to the failure to use the right safety gear, mark hazards or follow workplace safety protocols. Catastrophic injuries that you may suffer following a slip-and-fall accident at work include:
- Head injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
Getting caught in between moving objects
Caught-in injuries happen when you are trapped between heavy machinery or objects or when your cloth or body part is caught in moving machinery. The resulting injuries are usually devastating and may include amputation, crushing, strangulation or even death. Workplace accidents that can lead to caught-in injuries include:
- Having loose clothing or body parts sucked into power tools like drills, saws or grinders
- Being crushed between a moving vehicle and a wall
- Being crushed between heavy metal sheets
Pursuing workers’ comp damages
If you sustain a catastrophic injury at work, you need to act fast. First, you need to notify your employer of your injuries within 30 days from the date of your injury. Next, you need to file your workers’ comp claim within one year from the date of the workplace accident. It is important that you do not let these timelines run out or you may lose your benefits.