Common Types of Accident At Work: Accidents at work are a lot less common than they once were. In the past, many more people worked in dangerous environments such as mines and on construction sites. With today’s technology, most Americans are working in low-risk environments, regardless of their industry. Even those still working in mines and on construction sites are safer due to modern safety tech.
However, accidents still happen and everyone is at risk of falling victim to one. There are some accidents that are a lot more common than others. We’ll go into the most common types of accidents.
First, however, let’s take a look at what you should do to prepare yourself financially for any potential accidents.
Common Types of Accident At Work
Get The Right Insurance
If you work for a company and are in an accident on their premises, chances are that they’re liable to pay for your healthcare, as well as other costs. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the right insurance just in case. The reality is that the company may push back against a claim and, even if they are forced to pay at a later stage, you are stuck with the bill right now.
You should have good health insurance regardless of whether you’re worried about work accidents. Getting death benefit insurance (or life insurance) is also important, especially if you have a family that relies on your income. This insurance will keep your family financially stable at a very difficult time in their lives.
It is also worth considering getting disability insurance that will cover your income if you can no longer work after an accident. Again, the company may be liable to cover this, but you are still at risk of accidents when you are not at work, in which case they won’t pay.
With this in mind, let’s look at the most common types of workplace accidents.
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1. Falls
The most common type of workplace accident is falling, whether because you slipped or tripped or for any other reason. Every single person can be involved in this kind of accident, regardless of what kind of place you work in or how many safety measures you take. There are certain workplaces where you are at higher risk and where falls can cause a lot more damage – especially when working at a height in a construction setting.
2. Falling Objects
The next most common type of workplace accident is something falling on an individual. This is another type of accident that is most common and dangerous in specific settings (especially warehouses) but which is relevant in just about every workplace.
3. Crashes
People who drive for work or work in spaces where others are driving are at risk of crashes or collisions. These types of accidents are especially common in industries which require a lot of nighttime driving. They also occur in warehouses, in which vehicles carry stock and place it on shelving.
4. Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations are common in all types of workplaces. In some workplaces, the most common types of cuts are simple paper cuts. However, in more dangerous workplaces, there is risk from power saws, shredders, and many other high-risk tools.
5. Inhalation of Toxic Fumes
If you work in a factory or lab setting, you may be exposed to toxic fumes which can cause injuries or reactions. Even in an office setting, there is the potential for a gas leak or nearby construction to lead to the inhalation of toxic fumes.
6. Knocking Into Objects
We’ve all stubbed our toes or banged our knees on furniture. In a workplace, where there are more obstacles than we usually face at home, it is not uncommon for people to get injured by walking into objects.
7. Fights
Finally, one of the most common workplace accidents is not really an accident. Workplace fights are more common than you might think. Tensions can build up over time, eventually boiling over, leading to physical dust-ups.
