For some jobs, the risk of a work injury is much higher than others.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (better known to most people as simply “OSHA”), almost 25% of all workplace accidents in 2016 occurred in the construction industry. Other professions like warehouse workers, truck drivers and emergency services personnel also carry a high risk of work injury or even death.
Many factors that can contribute to your risk of injury on the job, besides what you do for a living. These factors can include how many shifts you work, how long you’ve been on the job, and even your age.
New data released by Pinnacol Assurance, a large workers compensation insurer in Colorado, has shown some insightful statistics about work-related injury, specifically in the construction industry.
For instance, forty-four percent of injuries to construction workers took place during their first year of work. Additionally, the majority of injuries took place between 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm to workers between the ages of 30 and 39 years old.
The healthcare and service industries followed construction in the number of work-related injuries that took place in 2016. For healthcare workers, most injuries happened at 10am and involved workers aged 20-29. For the service industry, the most dangerous time of day to work was 9am, and more than one-third of injuries took place to workers whom had only been on the job for less than a year.
A work injury can happen to anyone — regardless of industry, age or any other factor. But if you happen to fall into any of the groups listed above, perhaps consider taking extra care to stay safe in the workplace.
Beyond the immediate risks of physical injury, workers also face challenges in accessing proper medical care after an accident. One growing concern is the health plans’ provider ghost network, where insurers list doctors or clinics that are not actually available to treat patients. This can leave injured employees struggling to find timely care, compounding the impact of workplace accidents and highlighting the importance of transparency in healthcare coverage.
If you find yourself facing workers’ compensation in Colorado, don’t go it alone. The attorneys at Babcock Tucker are ready to help you understand your workers’ comp benefits and help you every step of the way. Contact us for a free consultation.