High-Risk Occupations for Workers’ Comp Injuries

Occupations with Highest Risk of Injury

Construction Workers

Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries found that construction worker fatalities rose 41% in the last decade. There are a number of things that may prove dangerous and even deadly on a construction site. Some of the common risks include injuries caused by collapsed scaffolding, falling objects, exposure to hazardous materials and gases, and falling from buildings, ladders, and scaffolds all pose a serious risk to construction workers. This long list of hazards makes workers’ compensation for construction workers one of the more commonly filed claims in Ohio.

Healthcare Worker

There are a number of dangers that come with working in the healthcare industry, especially in the age of COVID-19. Aside from the potential to contract contagious diseases, healthcare workers also face risks associated with moving or lifting patients, working with dangerous equipment, and dealing with aggressive or combative patients, among many other things. A  lower back injury is one of the most common among nursing injuries and illnesses.

Police Officers/ Emergency Services

Whether a police officer is responding to a call or patrolling the streets, they face danger on a daily basis. Gun violence, overexertion, attempting to restrain non-compliant offenders, stab wounds, exposure to infectious diseases, and PTSD are all common risks in the line of duty.

In addition to police officers, other professionals who work in the emergency service industry, including EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters, put themselves in harm’s way every day in order to protect the general public. This often means sacrificing their own safety and health for another’s. Whether they are at the scene of an accident, crime, fire, or other dangerous situation, workplace injuries are common.

Truck Driver / Transportation

Truck drivers and other transportation drivers are involved in a high rate of on-the-job injuries. These injuries are the result of trucking accidents, lifting freight, slip and falls, and hooking up trailers. In fact, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), over 155,000 accidents involving large trucks and buses occurred in the United States last year alone. Over half of these accidents resulted in serious injury or death.

Many truck drivers face coverage disputes when filing for workers’ compensation. Whether your employer claims you are an independent contractor or you are involved in a work-related accident while driving outside of Ohio, Mark L Newman can help you resolve this dispute.

Electrician

Electricians and other electrical workers are regularly exposed to workplace hazards. Shocks, electrical burns, fractured bones, and other injuries are common among electricians. Even the most seasoned electricians who follow safety procedures may suffer one or more work-related injuries during the course of their careers.

Carpenter

Carpenters play an important role in the construction industry, and as a result, they face many of the same hazards as construction workers. Neck, knee, hand, and back injuries are common among carpenters. Unfortunately, amputation injuries caused by dangerous power tools are also common.

Roofers

Roofers face a significant risk of injury on a daily basis. The most serious risk is a fall to the ground. This can be fatal or cause a serious head, neck, back, or leg injury. Roofers may also be injured from using tools such as nail guns, hammers, and saws. In addition, the weather can also be hazardous and lead to heatstroke, dehydration, or severe burns.

Factory Worker

Factory workers, such as assemblers, machine operators, welders, and shipping and receiving workers, face daily hazards in the workplace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides examples of some of these hazards, of which include overexertion, repetitive motion injuries, exposure to harmful substances, fires and explosions, and accidents resulting from defective equipment.

Which Profession Has the Highest Workers’ Compensation Claims?

Workers’ compensation statistics from 2019 indicate that the labor industry had the highest number of worker’s compensation claims, with 7.2% of the total percent of claims filed in the United States. Truck drivers and nursing assistants also filed a significant number of claims.

Do You Have a Cincinnati Workers’ Comp Case?

Whether your profession makes the list of the most high-risk occupations for workers’ comp injuries or not, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits if you have been injured on the job. This is true whether your injury is relatively minor or severe, so long as it prevents you from performing your job. If you suffered an on-the-job injury, Cincinnati workers’ comp attorney Mark L. Newman can assist you in obtaining the full benefits you’re entitled to, including:

• Temporary Total Disability
• Wage Loss Compensation
• Permanent Partial Disability
• Permanent Total Disability
• Scheduled Loss/Loss of Use Benefits
• Death Benefits
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Living Maintenance 
• Lump Sum Settlements

Contact Attorney at Law Mark L. Newman if you have any further questions or need help filing your workers’ comp claim. You can reach him by calling (513) 533-2009 or by completing the online intake form found here.