Injuries or deaths from slipping, tripping, and falling in the workplace are preventable, yet each year the accidents account for the most common reason for missing work.
According to the National Floor Safety Institute, 85 percent of workers’ compensation claims come from slipping on a floor at work. A high percentage of slip-and-fall accidents happen in manufacturing jobs, but the majority of slip-and-fall accidents at work happen in the service industry.
It may seem surprising that slip-and-falls are a leader among workplace injuries, but that’s largely because this workplace hazard flies under the radar. While fewer people die from it than other work accidents, falls cost billions of dollars each year in hospital bills and lost wages.
A range of consequences from falling
Slipping and falling can have serious consequences, especially in a hazardous workplace. The most common injury following a fall is a fracture. Slip-and-fall accidents can also cause permanent disabilities, including traumatic brain injuries.
The majority of worker deaths resulting from falls occurs in the construction, mining, and maintenance industries. Among other sectors, 22 percent of slip-and-fall injuries result in an average of missing 31 days of work. The cost of human life and injury is compounded by the costs of treatment, compensation, and missed workdays.
Prevention is crucial
Workplace slip-and-fall accidents are the subject of rigorous regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to OSHA’s standards, employers must identify hazardous surfaces and work areas, conduct routine inspections and provide training to educate employees about risks.
These mitigation efforts are the result of almost three decades of proposals. The steady implementation of these regulations has reduced the number of deaths and injuries over that time.
Do you have questions?
If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident at work, it is possible that your employer was not in compliance with regulations. An attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to additional compensation for the injuries you have sustained.