Types of Workplace Accidents

Thousands of workers are injured in workplace accidents every year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that workers lost 1,162,210 days away from work because of occupational injuries and illnesses in a single recent year. Nonfatal injuries occurred at a rate of 109 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers. In addition, OSHA reports over 4,000 fatal accidents per year.

If you have been seriously injured in a work-related accident, the Rhode Island workers’ compensation attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush can help. We have devoted our practice to accident, injury and disability matters, recovering millions for our clients and helping thousands of people obtain justice.

It should be simple to claim workers’ compensation benefits after an on-the-job injury. However, in reality, the process is often quite difficult and complex. Our law firm can guide you through the process, while protecting your rights and obtaining for you the best possible resolution. As you can see from our case results, we are skilled, experienced and dedicated to helping injured people obtain the compensation and benefits they deserve.

Have you suffered an on-the-job injury or illness? We always offer a free review of your case. Contact us now for advice about your legal rights after a workplace accident in Rhode Island.

Common Types of Rhode Island Workplace Accidents

OSHA reports that in a recent year, 20 percent of all private industry fatal workplace accidents occurred in the construction industry. Among construction fatalities, four types of accidents, known as the “Fatal Four,” accounted for almost 60 percent of the deaths:

• Falls (36.5 percent). Falls from heights (ladders, roofs and scaffolding) or into holes or dangerous equipment or vats of hazardous substances are common in the construction industry. OSHA reports that fall protection in construction is the most commonly cited standard violated by employers. Standards regarding scaffolding and ladders were also among the top 10 most frequently cited violations.
• Struck by objects (10.1 percent). Forcible contact or impact between a worker and an object or piece of machinery is referred to as a “struck-by” injury. The objects could be flying, falling, rolling or swinging. For example, a worker who was hoisting bricks in a bucket to the top of building was struck in the head when the bricks fell out of the bucket. Another example is an overhead crane operator who was killed when a heavy metal plate separated from the lifting clamp, fell and struck him.
• Electrocutions (8.6 percent). When humans are exposed to lethal amounts of electricity, fatal electrocution accidents occur. OSHA reports that the three major electrocution hazards in the construction industry involve: 1) contact with power lines overhead; 2) contact with energized electrical sources, such as bare or damaged wires; and 3) improper use of extension cords.
• Caught in between (2.5 percent). When a worker is caught in between objects, this is referred to as a “crushing accident.” These accidents can cause fractures, spinal cord injury, internal organ damage and death. Examples of this type of accident include trench cave-ins; workers pulled into and caught in moving machinery; and a worker being crushed between a semi-trailer and a wall.

Although the “Fatal Four” cause a majority of fatal accidents in the construction industry, there are many other common types of serious workplace accidents. According to the National Safety Council, the top 10 preventable types of on-the-job accidents include:

1. Overexertion injuries
2. Slip/trip and fall accidents
3. Falls from heights
4. Reaction injuries (slipping or tripping without falling)
5. Falling object injuries
6. Walking into objects
7. Motor vehicle crashes
8. Entanglement in machinery
9. Repetitive motion injuries
10. Violent acts in the workplace

These are but a few examples of the many types of accidents that happen in Rhode Island workplaces. Serious injuries can happen in virtually any work setting – not just the jobsites typically considered to be dangerous.