According to the 2016 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, overexertion involving outside sources was the most common type of workplace injury. This was determined using data from 2013, and the index was created using information from Liberty Mutual as well as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance.
It was determined that such injuries cost employers $15.08 billion, and these injuries accounted for roughly 25 percent of the injury burden. In addition to overexertion, falls were another common injury claim. Same-level falls cost employers $10.17 billion and accounted for 16.4 percent of the injury burden while falls to lower floors cost employers $5.4 billion. Falls to lower levels of a building accounted for 8.7 percent of the overall injury burden.
Altogether, the top five injuries on the list accounted for 64.8 percent of the claim burden. Other common injury claims included slips or trips without falling, injuries related to repetitive motions and being struck against objects or equipment. The total cost of all disabling injuries to employers was $61.88 billion. The top 10 causes of injury accounted for 82.5 percent of all costs incurred, which translates to $51.06 billion.
Those who are injured in the workplace may be eligible to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits under their employer’s insurance coverage. Benefits can include the furnishing of medical care and treatment and the replacement of a percentage of wages that have been lost. An attorney can often be of assistance to an injured worker in obtaining the necessary medical and other documentation and helping to ensure that the claim is filed on a timely basis.