The Most Common Workplace Accidents: What Florida Workers Should Know

Risk is all around us.  While we can all take steps to mitigate the risk of certain negative events from happening to us, the reality is that very few people, places, or things can be made 100% accident-proof.  When accidents happen in the workplace, individuals are likely to want to know their rights to workers’ compensation for damages incurred on the job site.

The purpose of organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is to help create a uniform set of safety standards that workplaces must adhere to in order to keep workers safe from personal injury.

Not all jobs are equally as safe.  For example, OSHA has created a shortlist of the most dangerous types of workplace injuries: Falls, getting struck by debris, electrocution, and getting stuck.  Certain trades, such as roofing or plumbing, expose workers to a higher probability of personal injury compared to someone who works in a field like accounting.

For workers in Florida, being aware of common workplace accidents can help them stay cognizant of potential hazards and, more importantly, to determine if their employer is violating OSHA standards.  If this is the case, an injury incurred on the job could be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.

Read on to discover what Florida workers should know about the common workplace accidents.

Motor Vehicle Crashes 

Motor vehicles are common in so many occupations, from delivery drivers to construction workers and supply chain operations.  Any employer who has workers operating company vehicles should ensure that workers are properly trained.  In addition, vehicles should be routinely inspected and maintained, and the organization’s alcohol and drug testing policies should allow for testing at any time.

If an accident causes personal injury and it can be proven that the company did not have proper precautions in place, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to review your options for litigation.

Falls 

Falls on the job can take two forms: slips and falls at ground level and falls from heights.  Both can be grounds for a personal injury suit if it can be shown that the employer was acting negligently in a manner that led to the accident.  Examples include providing insufficient safety gear, inadequate training, or failing to clean up spills  in a timely manner.

Electrocution 

Any job that involves working around cords or wires runs a risk of electrocution.  While readers may envision electricians and other construction related trades being most at risk for electrocution, in reality any occupation that uses electronic devices is susceptible to this risk.

Employers should ensure that all electrical equipment and building wiring is up to local code, and that devices are routinely inspected for faults and upgraded as needed.  Safety training for particularly complex electronics is also strongly advised.

When to Contact a Professional 

If you believe that your employer failed to provide proper safety precautions and this contributed to a personal injury incurred on the jobsite, you may have grounds for taking legal action.  For over thirty years, the Orlando workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer Law have been helping workers fight for their rights to fair workers compensation.  Contact us today for help.

Source:

osha.gov/data/commonstats