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Five things to know about workplace fall protection

On Behalf of | Oct 24, 2016 | Injuries

Fall protection is the number one workplace safety concern for OSHA this year. It is number one on the annual list of the top ten safety and health violations compiled by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Ladder safety and scaffolding issues are also included in issues of fall protection.

The statistics related to falls in the workplace are concerning. Therefore, it is important to know your rights as an employee. Here are five things to know about workplace fall protection.

1. How this applies to workers in Ohio

According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, one in five worker’s compensation injuries in the workplace is a result of slips, trips and fall-related incidents. These injuries are most likely to lead to missed workdays, a reduction in productivity, and expensive worker compensation claims.

2. What is the average cost of an injury?

The average claim costs more than $30,000 when considering medical bills and lost production. The most common type of injury in these incidents is a sprained knee. One in four injuries resulted in eight or more days of missed work.

3. Gender, age and occupation matter

Construction workers are the most susceptible to falls, especially from ladders, roofs and scaffolding. You are more likely to miss time as a result of a workplace slip, trip, or fall if you are a woman over the age of 45.

4. Employers want to help

Employers want to take action to prevent injuries too. Last month, OSHA published a report that said efforts to reduce severe injuries were successful by encouraging businesses to conduct their own internal investigations into workplace safety.

5. You have a right to report

OSHA regulations require employers to provide a safe workplace for employees. If you believe your workplace is unsafe, you may be entitled to whistleblower protection and injury compensation under the law.

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