5 common injuries that lead to a workers’ comp claim

While some jobs have fewer safety risks, any job creates the potential for an injury to happen.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 2.6 million workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in 2021. In many of the cases, the severity of the injuries requires time off from work. Some of the most common workplace injuries involved with workers’ compensation claims include the following:

1. Spraining Or Straining Ligaments

From tripping to falling or simply moving awkwardly to complete a task can easily lead to tearing or stretching ligaments. A severe sprain may lead to the inability to complete the required work until it properly and fully heals.

2. Injuring The Eyes

Eye injuries often top the list, especially for people who work around chemicals, large equipment, or in the environment. Some irritants can scratch or damage the eyes, leading to long-term issues.

3. Fracturing A Bone

Any role that requires manual labor and navigating around heavy machines increases the odds of breaking or fracturing a bone. Key reasons include a slip or trip, getting caught between equipment, or falling off a ladder.

4. Suffering A Burn

Although less frequent in some jobs burns still remain a common injury for people in construction, manufacturing, and the service industry. Tissue can get injured via steam, chemicals, electricity, and sunlight, as well as via inhaling chemical or smoke fumes.

5. Developing Cumulative Trauma

Although they take time, jobs with repetitive tasks slowly start to damage the body. Eventually, vital joints, tendons, and muscles severely ache and no longer move as they once did. In many situations, these injuries never go away.

Even with all the safety measures in place, workplace accidents happen. When they do, under North Carolina workers’ compensation law, workers deserve compensation.