What Are the Most Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Workplaces?

In 2013, according to OSHA, 4,585 workers lost their lives on the job. This means, on average, that 88 people lost their lives every week or that about 12 people died every day in 2013. Thousands more suffered injuries, many of them catastrophic.

Although this number is the second-lowest annual total of workplace deaths recorded since 1992, OSHA notes that many workplaces still have a long way to go in preventing serious injuries. According to OSHA, eliminating the top four most common causes of fatal injuries in the workplace would prevent nearly 500 deaths and thousands of injuries each year.

These "fatal four" causes include falls, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being pinned in between two items or having a body part caught in a machine or other object.

Some of these accidents are caused by worker or employer negligence. Others are the result of negligence by a third party, like the manufacturer or designer of defective work equipment, tools, or materials. Determining who is responsible for a workplace accident or injury is key to ensuring the injured person receives the full compensation due to them and their families.

The Omaha catastrophic injury attorneys at Cullan & Cullan LLC strive to help workers, passersby, and others who suffer serious injuries while on the job. Contact us today to learn more - your initial consultation is, as always, confidential.