It’s very rare that a person wakes up in the morning and is overjoyed to go to work. If you are one of the lucky people who celebrates his job, you should cherish it because you’re in the minority.
But no matter your feelings toward your job, work is work: you have to get up and go in order to support yourself and family. However, you don’t have to feel compelled to work in an unsafe environment or put yourself in danger for the sake of your work duties.
Sadly, many workers do just that on a daily basis and wind up suffering the consequences.
Work Accident Problems
Every year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes its Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). This report provides an estimate of the number of work-related injuries and illnesses across the nation, how often they occur, and what causes them. The October 2015 survey showed a slight decline in non-fatal work injuries, estimating that about three million workers suffered on-the-job accidents in 2014. Despite the fact that this is a decline, three injury victims out of every 100 registered full-time workers in the U.S. is definitely not something to celebrate.
The BLS highlights some more alarming statistics:
- Percentage of workplace accidents that caused non-fatal injuries: 95% (2.8 million)
- Percentage of workplace accidents that caused serious illness: 5% (200 thousand)
- Percentage of non-fatal injuries that occurred in the service-providing industry: 75%
- Percentage of non-fatal injuries that occurred in the goods-producing industry: 25%
- Percentage of reported workplace injuries and illnesses that resulted in lost wages due to missed days of work, job transfers, or medical restrictions: over 50%
- Percentage increase from 2013 of workplace fatalities: 2% (4,679 deaths). Note that fatal workplace accidents increased from 2013 to 2014, the reverse of the trend for non-fatal injuries.
Remember, all these numbers apply for just one year.
It doesn’t matter whether you like, dislike, or feel indifferent toward your job duties, no one should have to go into work feeling unsafe. If you question your safety or feel that your work environment is putting you at risk of an injury, you may want to file a safety complaint with OSHA, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in order to have your workplace inspected. Remember, you have the right not only to feel safe but actually be safe at work.
If you’ve already been injured in a workplace accident, don’t allow yourself to become just one more number on a table of statistics. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits and medical reimbursement. Call us today at 386.673.4412 to explore your rights and see what options you may have going forward.