Workplace Injuries

Physical Injuries

The most common workplace accidents are physical accidents. These can be:

• Injuries resulting from a staff member’s work, like an injury while lifting heavy items or falling off a ladder.
• Injuries caused by other people’s actions, like being hit by machinery on a construction site.
• General workplace accidents, like tripping over an item and twisting an ankle.

Common physical on the job accidents can damage the following parts of the body:

• Head, Face, and Neck
• Tendons
• Muscles
• Wrists and Hands
• Fingers (Trigger Finger)
• Thumbs (Trigger Thumb)
• Ankles
• Feet
• Shoulders and Back

Occupational Illness

Occupational illnesses are medical conditions that arise from your job responsibilities. These conditions can manifest in different ways, such as contracting a contagious disease, developing a chronic illness, or experiencing a worsening of an existing condition. 

For example, working in a hospital can expose you to various infectious diseases, but working in a factory setting may lead to respiratory issues like asthma, COPD, or asbestosis due to inhaling dust or fumes over time. In addition, occupational illnesses may occur suddenly or gradually due to prolonged exposure to certain hazards in the workplace.

Repetitive Stress Injury

A repetitive stress injury (RSI) is a type of injury that occurs from performing the same task or activity repeatedly for an extended period. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common examples of RSI.

These types of injuries can happen in any occupation or industry, especially those involving repetitive physical actions like heavy lifting, bending, or working on an assembly line. If your job requires you to perform repetitive actions frequently, you may be at a higher risk of developing an RSI.