There are many ways to experience an injury at work. Of course, the most common injuries at workplaces often depend on the workplace itself. A retail environment carries different risks as compared to a construction site.
However, there are still overall trends consistent across all injuries. According to the National Safety Council, the most common injury after 2020 is exposure to harmful substances, followed by overexertion and bodily reaction.
Exposure to harmful substances
There are many things that the National Safety Council considers “harmful substances.” For example, experiencing electrical shock on the job would fall under this category. It may also include exposure to high levels of noise, or extreme temperatures. In some environments, oxygen deficiency may cause injury.
Becoming ill at the job site and needing to take time off from work as a result is also exposure to a “harmful substance.”
Overexertion and bodily reaction
A very common injury under this category is a “non-impact” injury. The National Safety Council defines this as directing “excessive” physical force at an outside object. For example, if you hurt your back while picking up a box, this is overexertion. Throwing, pushing, carrying, and tuning may also result in overexertion.
Repetitive motion injuries also cause a lot of missed work time. These are similar to non-impact injuries, but typically result from “lighter” movements. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome from too much typing is a repetitive motion injury.
There are many ways to experience workplace injury, no matter if you work in a forest or in an office. Understanding the most common varieties of workplace injury can help keep you safe and on the job.