In some industries, falls are one of the greatest risks that workers face. In construction, for instance, falls are commonly cited as the top reason for fatal accidents. But they can certainly happen in many other settings – office buildings, stores, hospitals, and other areas that don’t appear to have the traditional danger associated with construction.
Why do these falls happen? Workers need to be aware of the risks they face and their rights to seek compensation after an injury. Let’s look at a few examples below.
Ladder falls
For one thing, falls from ladders are incredibly common. They are the reason for many of the fatal accidents in industries like construction, painting, roofing, maintenance, electrical and much more. Workers can fall because the ladder was set up improperly, because they’re in a rush, because they don’t maintain for three points of contact, and for a variety of other reasons.
Slip and fall accidents
In warehouses, hospitals, office buildings and other such settings, slip-and-fall accidents are very common. They sometimes happen because of a wet floor that wasn’t properly marked or cleaned up. A cluttered or disorganized workspace is also a major trip hazard.
Falls on the stairs
Finally, some serious falls happen on the stairs. They could occur because there isn’t proper lighting, for instance, so workers can’t see. There can also be other issues such as defective handrails, uneven flooring or simply a lack of maintenance and upkeep on the staircase itself.
No matter why workers fall and get injured, those injuries can keep them out of the job and lead to extensive medical bills. They need to know how to seek workers’ compensation benefits.