What Are the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Injuries?

Each year the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index releases data on the leading 10 causes of serious workplace injuries suffered in our nation. The injuries must have caused the injured worker to miss at least five days of work. These injuries can be found in a wide variety of industries in Illinois and nationwide.

In all industries, the five most common causes of workplace injuries were: overexertion from outside sources; falls on the same level; being struck by an object or equipment; falls to a lower level; and other exertions or bodily reactions. Other common workplace injuries include: motor vehicle accidents; slips or trips without falling; being caught between equipment or objects; repetitive stress injuries; and being struck against an object or equipment.

In the professional services industry, the most common injury-causing workplace accident was falls on the same level. The most common injury-causing workplace accident in the manufacturing industry, the health care industry, the retail industry, the transport and warehousing industry and the wholesale industry were overexertion by outside sources. Finally, in the leisure and hospitality industry, the most common injury-causing workplace accident was falls on the same level.

As this shows, there is a wide variety of ways a person can be injured on the job. On-the-job injuries are not limited to certain industries. While it may seem obvious that working in the manufacturing industry can be dangerous, even industries such as the retail industry and leisure and hospitality industry can present dangers that injure workers. Workers’ compensation injuries can lead to hefty medical bills, lost wages from time away from work and other expenses. Fortunately, workers in such situations can seek workers’ compensation benefits to help them out financially while they recover from their injuries.