Accidents that happen at places of business or work sites and cause serious injuries are rare enough that you can probably remember every time you have ever witnessed one, even if you work in a relatively high-risk career such as construction.
OSHA’s Fatal Four Causes of Construction Worker Deaths
According to OSHA, most fatal accidents at construction sites were caused by falls, electrical exposure, workers being struck by objects, and workers getting trapped inside or behind dangerous equipment.
Speak Up if You See an OSHA Violation
You might remember studying the Industrial Revolution in your high school history class and seeing those black-and-white photographs of work environments that might as well have been entirely gray in real life from all the dirt and smoke.
Types of Toxic Exposure at Nebraska Job Sites
Workers’ compensation laws require employers to pay workers’ medical expenses for work-related injuries and illnesses.
What to Do if Your Employer Thinks You are Faking an Injury
Most workers in Nebraska are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in the event that they become hurt on the job. Unfortunately, these benefits are not always easy to obtain. While the insurance company may deny your claim, your employer may also think you are faking your injury.
How Soon Should I See a Doctor After I am Injured at Work?
On-the-job accidents happen to people in any type of occupation. Even a seemingly minor incident at work can result in potentially serious injuries. When this happens, it is important to see your doctor or other medical provider immediately. Failure to do so could jeopardize your health and your rights in a workers’ compensation claim.
No scientific backing for popular support belts
Like many in your profession, you may have heard people singing the praises of back belts. Apparently, the belts reduce force on the spine by increasing pressure around the abdomen. Workers who must do a lot of heavy lifting have taken a page from weight lifters who often sport the belts around the gym as they hoist massive barbells.
Truck drivers and fatigue
One of the worst elements of fatigue in relation to driving is that it can happen so fast, sneaking up on a vehicle operator and creating havoc. Truckers generally work long hours, and weariness can affect their safety as well as the safety of the drivers around them. The Department of Transportation reports that fatigue is a major factor in the thousands of large truck accidents that occur each year.
Three common causes for on-the-job accidents in Nebraska
2016 has been a rough year for workers in Nebraska. The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened 41 investigations of the safety of workplaces within the state. Of these investigations currently underway, 32 cases resulted in hospitalizations and nine in amputations.