We continue where we left off in part 1 by taking a look at three more high-risk work environments.
#3 Factories and Warehouses
Stepping into a warehouse, you may not feel like you’re in an unsafe work environment. However, it’s the collection of actions that take place simultaneously in factories and warehouses that create hazardous conditions.
Each individual job in a factory or warehouse carries its own degree of difficulty, stress, and danger. Skilled positions like welding, machine operation, forklift driving, etc., require careful attention to detail and physical ability. At any point during a long shift, an employee can lose focus, become fatigued, or miscommunicate and thus sustain an injury or cause one in a coworker.
With all the moving parts in a factory, it takes just one grease spot on the floor, or one machine to malfunction, in order for a life-altering injury to occur. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an annual average of 5 deaths occur among warehouse workers. In addition, 5% of factory workers experience a significant injury during work each year (safetyculture.com).
#4 Mines
Active-working mines are some of the most toxic workspaces. In addition to the strenuous labor of mining work and the risk of cave-ins, black lung is a serious threat to mine workers. The longer a miner is exposed to toxic coal dust, the greater is their likelihood of developing a serious lung condition like black lung. Overall, there is a 16% likelihood that a miner contracts a lung-related illness (WebMD).
#5 Construction Worksites
Construction workers, managers, and helpers are all among the top most injured and at-risk workers (USAToday). With heavy parts and machinery, great heights, and power tools, there’s no shortage of hazards present on any given construction worksite.
If you’re injured on the job, take action right away. Track the details of the event that caused the injury. Report it to your superiors. Seek medical attention. Document your symptoms, physician’s findings, and progress as part of your workers’ compensation claim. You can always visit our medical provider directory for physicians who accept injury claims.
