Every year, approximately 40 Connecticut workers lose their lives in workplace accidents, and thousands more are injured on the job. These injuries occur in many different ways and in many different lines of work. However, there are a few types of accidents, and a few sectors, that consistently lead to more workplace injuries than others.
The Connecticut workplace injury attorneys at Ronald M. Scherban, P.C. help workers who have suffered from injuries while performing their jobs. We have seen firsthand just how bad things can get for those who have been seriously injured. At the very least, workers should receive compensation for the damages they face because of hazardous workplaces or work responsibilities.
Connecticut Workplace Injuries – By the Numbers
- In 2014, the two leading causes of workplace fatalities were transportation accidents and falls/slips/trips.
- The three sectors with the highest rates of occupational fatalities in Connecticut were transportation and utilities, construction, and wholesale and retail trade.
- In 2014, Connecticut exceeded the national average of workplace injuries.
Construction Worker Injuries in Connecticut
Just like those in every other state, Connecticut construction workers face many risks while on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has named the four most common causes of construction worker injuries the “Fatal Four.” These causes make up well over half of all construction worker deaths. The Fatal Four are:
- Falls – Falls in construction are, unfortunately, all too common. They frequently occur because of scaffolding, crane or building collapses.
- Electrocutions
- Being Struck By (or Against) An Object
- Being Caught In or Between Equipment
Common Worker Injuries
From bruises to paralysis to death, worker injuries range from small injuries that require minimal medical treatment to devastating injuries that result in the loss of life. Here are a few examples of some of the most serious injuries workers might face.
- Back Injuries – Back injuries are some of the most common occupational injuries. They often occur in the lower back as the result of lifting heavy objects, though injuries can also occur in any part of the back from blunt force, lifting objects or operating heavy equipment.
- Neck Injuries – Neck injuries can occur from strains of manual labor, but can also be the result of smaller tasks, or poor posture resulting from awkward positioning while performing a task.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries – These injuries can happen to virtually any type of worker in any sector. They are the result of many hours, days and sometimes years of performing a single, harmful task. Repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, can have crippling effects that leave workers disabled.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries can be the result of blunt trauma (like that suffered in a car accident, for example), heavy lifting or falls. In the worst of cases, they can leave workers paralyzed and permanently disabled.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs are some of the most dangerous of all injuries, due not only to the effects they have on the cognitive and physical functions of a person, but also because they can be so difficult to detect after an accident.
- Loss of Limbs – Amputations in the workplace are most likely to occur when heavy, dangerous equipment is involved, in sectors like manufacturing or food processing. The chances of losing a finger or arm are much greater if there is insufficient training or sleep deprivation among workers operating heavy machinery.
