Philadelphia Workers' Compensation Blog

Workplace injuries affect millions of individuals across the United States. Pennsylvania workers' compensation works to remedy these injuries by providing benefits, so that workers may return to their jobs and have medical expenses paid for. Many injured employees do not know that they can also apply for and receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits in addition to their workers' compensation if they cannot work.

Workers in Pennsylvania can face real hazards on the job that put them at risk for sustaining serious, long-term injuries. A lack of safety training and knowledge can lead to severe accidents and even deaths in some cases. For example, people who work on aerial lifts can be seriously hurt if they do not know how to operate them properly and in a safe manner. Every year across the country, around 26 workers lose their lives while using the lifts. There are many issues linked to these deaths on the job, including falls, electrocutions and tip-over incidents. In addition, workers have been trapped or crushed between the bucket or guardrail and another object.

Before workers go up in an aerial lift, they may need to inspect the controls, guardrails and fall protection gear in order to avoid workplace accidents or injuries. Defective equipment can be deadly, so it is important to avoid using lifts with broken or missing parts. In addition, it is key that this type of lift is used in an appropriate area. Aerial lifts should start from a nonshifting, level surface and avoid overhead power lines and other serious obstacles. Even when using the lift on a flat surface, setting brakes and outriggers can help ensure workers' safety.

There were 918 truck driver and sales drivers killed on the job in 2016 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The death toll was higher than any other occupation in the United States in that time period. Farmers and agricultural managers had the second most dangerous job in the country during that year as that sector recorded 260 deaths. Overall, 5,190 people died in Pennsylvania and throughout the country while at work in 2016.

That was a 7 percent increase from 2015, and it was the highest total since 2008. There were 2,083 fatalities that occurred because of collisions with other vehicles or other incidents taking place while transporting objects. For those who drove a truck as their primary job, 80 percent of workers who died were killed in transportation-related incidents. In most other industries, the primary cause of injuries and death were slips and falls.

When temperatures rise, Pennsylvania employees who work outside or in workplaces that do not have temperature-controlled environments, they may be at risk for heat stroke. In some cases, heat stroke can be fatal, especially when the temperatures soar into the high 80s and 90s. However, fatal heat stroke can still occur even when the Heat Index is below 91 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Heat Index is a calculation based on heat and humidity that gauges how the combination feels to individuals who may be spending time outside. However, the Heat Index calculation assumes that the person is in the shade and is wearing light clothing. This means that the actual temperature in the sun may be much higher if the employee is working in direct sunlight. Further, the employee may be wearing heavy, non-breathable protective clothing.