Every Pennsylvania employee faces some risk of injury at their workplace. Even if a worker is not climbing ladders or using toxic chemicals, there are musculoskeletal injuries that could occur at any job. Employers have a responsibility to keep work environments as safe as possible to prevent injuries.
Workplace injury statistics
There are around 2.8 million work-related accidents that cause nonfatal injuries each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. In 2019, 5,333 U.S. workers died in workplace accidents. The overall injury rate for the U.S. workforce in 2019 was around 2.8 per 100 people.
Most common workplace injuries
According to the same BLS statistics from 2019, the most common type of workplace injuries are sprains, strains and tears. There were 327,650 of these types of work-related injuries in 2019.
Some of the most common types of workplace accidents are slips, trips, and falls. Other common work-related accidents include overexertion, bodily reaction and contact with equipment or objects. All of these common workplace accidents combined are responsible for 84% of nonfatal work injuries.
Most dangerous jobs
There are certain jobs that account for a much greater portion of workers’ comp claims than others. These jobs include truck drivers, nursing assistants and laborers. The highest number of work-related fatalities occurs in the forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture sector. Transportation and warehousing have the second highest fatality rates, followed by construction.
Compensation for work-related injuries
After you are injured on the job, it may be crucial for you to pursue financial compensation so that your accident does not create a financial setback. Injured workers in Pennsylvania are eligible for coverage under their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, which can cover lost wages, medical treatment, and certain disfigurement and scarring. If you have questions about a work injury, seek advice from a certified specialist workers’ compensation lawyer today.