Employers in Pennsylvania are obligated to provide employees with a safe environment in which to work, but workplace accidents and injuries are common. The most common types of workplace accidents are slip-and-fall, machinery accidents and vehicle or transportation accidents. Employers can take steps to help prevent these types of injuries on the job.
Approximately 33 percent of all workplace personal injury accidents are due to slips, trips and falls. These are among the most common types of injuries that result in claims against workers’ compensation. They can cause broken bones, cuts, lacerations, pulled muscles, sprains, strains, back injuries or head injuries. Employers should establish policies requiring diligent housekeeping and proper employee footwear to reduce the risk of these workplace accidents.
Machinery or equipment that is not appropriately guarded can be a serious safety hazard. Employees can get hands, arms or other body parts caught in moving machinery or can be struck by objects flung from machinery. Employers should keep in mind that any machine that has the potential to cause injury must be equipped with guards. Operators should undergo mandatory training to reduce the risk of injury when working with machines.
Companies that use large trucks or other vehicles run the risk of employee injury due to being run over or struck. In agriculture, this type of accident is the most likely to be fatal. Workplace design measures can help employers lower the risk of vehicle accidents.
Workers who are injured on the job in Pennsylvania might be entitled to compensation through the state’s workers’ compensation system. Payments might be available for medical expenses, retraining costs, permanent injuries, survivor benefits, replacement income or other things. An attorney with experience in workers’ comp may be able to help a person with workplace injuries by organizing evidence and putting together a claim or by representing the client during official proceedings.