There are injury risks present in any business, even those that appear quite sedentary from the outside. Employees who get hurt on the job (no matter what shape or form the injury takes) are likely to qualify for workers’ compensation. Employers, therefore, are usually obligated to carry workers’ compensation insurance to meet this challenge.
While it’s important to do all you can to prevent workers’ compensation claims in your business, the fact of the matter is that you often can’t prevent an accident from happening. Therefore, it’s best to be conscious of the challenges that are most likely to happen, so that you can be prepared nonetheless. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common workers’ comp claims made today.
Sprains, Strains and Repetitive Motion Injuries
Small injuries from even the most basic accidents might still prove exceptional for the victim. A pulled muscle, torn tendon or overexertion can happen in the blink of an eye and cause a lot of pain, not to mention an extensive amount of recovery time and medical bills. These injuries often happen due to lifting heavy objects or doing other physical work. However, even activities as simple as typing on a keyboard all day can eventually cause significant chronic injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Slips and Falls
An employee could fall and get hurt in your business in any situation, at any time. Even if an employee were to fall in the break room or bathroom, they often will qualify for workers’ compensation. It’s up to you to institute as strong a risk management program as possible to keep this common risk low.
Electricity
Though electrocution, shocks and burns primarily happen in the contracting and manufacturing industries, no business is immune to them. Even a single faulty wire could cause a severe electric shock to an unfortunate passerby. More severe shocks could lead to cardiac arrest, nerve damage or significant burns. Businesses must do all they can to make sure everything is working properly.
Falling Objects
Head injuries are more frequent than you might think. Someone might sustain harm in any office setting when trying to reach an object on a high shelf. Or, restaurant workers being accidentally hit with a piece of equipment. The list of potential risks goes on.
Vehicle Related Incidents
Commercial vehicle accidents are a leading cause of fatality-related workers’ compensation claims. If one of your delivery drivers gets severely injured in a wreck while on a delivery, they will likely want to file a workers compensation claim. In the case of death, workers compensation benefits will go to a surviving family member, which can substantially reduce their burden for the loss of their loved one.
Although you keep your employees as safe as possible, it’s important to have a reliable workers compensation policy in case of an accident. Speak to one of our agents to learn more about how to tailor your plan to your advantage.