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Workers’ compensation is a critical safeguard for employers and employees alike. Without it, workplace accidents can bring financial ruin to all parties involved, from the injured employee to the employer, who could face lawsuits due to negligence.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into four of the most frequent worker’s compensation injury claims and discuss how each may be handled if presented with such a claim. Keep reading if you’re interested in learning more about issues around workers comp injury claims.
1- Lacerations
Lacerations are among the most common workplace injuries, leading to many workers’ compensation injury claims being filed. This is often due to an employee coming into contact with sharp objects in their daily routine, but lacerations can also occur from other hazards.
The severity and cost of these injuries vary depending on the wound’s depth and the treatment needed for recovery. A deep laceration could require stitches or additional medical care, which can add up financially.
A laceration may lead to long periods away from work while the injury is healing, which can result in lost wages. Therefore, it is essential to take precautions in the workplace to ensure that employees can stay safe and avoid serious injuries like lacerations.
2- Sprains And Strains
Sprains and strains are amongst the most common injury claims for workers comp. These injuries occur when muscles, tendons, or ligaments in certain body parts are overexerted or overstretched.
Sprains can happen when too much force is applied to a joint by a sudden movement, like twisting, and can lead to severe swelling and pain. Strains occur more often with repeated physical motions and result from the muscle fibers being stretched too far, ultimately leading to stiffness and soreness.
3- Contusions
Contusions are among the most frequent workers comp injury claims as they present an often-seen result of accidents in the workplace. Even though contusions look minor and heal over time, they still pose serious risks to the employee’s safety.
Overtime contusions can worsen, leading to potential internal damage and other medical complications if not adequately treated. Additionally, there could be risks such as nerve damage that may cause mobility issues or interfere with sensory perception.
4- Burns
Burns sustained in the workplace are decidedly one of the most common workers comp injury claims. This is because burns frequently arise from dangerous machinery, open flames, chemicals, and other hazardous materials on job sites.
Those with jobs requiring hands-on or manual labor are at an exceptionally high risk of suffering some burn-related injury. Fortunately, employers have taken greater caution in guaranteeing employee safety by providing protection such as gloves and specially-designed attire to prevent burn injuries as much as possible.
4 Of The Most Frequent Workers Comp Injury Claims – In Summary
Workers comp injury claims can be costly and time-consuming for employers and employees. It is essential to take proper safety precautions in the workplace to avoid these types of injuries, such as lacerations, sprains and strains, contusions, and burns.
By understanding the risks associated with each type of injury claim, employers can create a safer working environment that will protect their workers from harm while saving them money in potential compensation costs.
