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Workplace illnesses can include mental health concerns that may be attributed to the workplace and your work environment. For instance, a traumatic event in the workplace could result in post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or ongoing anxiety. Harassment can cause concerns and also affect your mental health. Of course, many other things can as well. Depression costs around $200 million in lost workdays each year, and that results in losses of around $17 to $44 billion. The rates of depression do vary by occupation and industry, with workers age 55 or older reporting that they have some kind of mental health concern at a rate of around 20 percent. Workers who suffer from depression can miss work often. According to the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, workers with depression miss an average of 4.8 days of work in three months, while they also suffer around 11.5 days of reduced productivity. Depression varies by occupation, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s most common among those in the personal care and service occupations at a rate of 10.8 percent. Those in food preparation and serving also suffer often and at a rate of 10.3 percent. Depression increases health care costs and can lead to or contribute to other health concerns as well. If you’re suffering from depression due to your work environment, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation to help you cover the costs of the appropriate treatments. Our website has more information on depression and mental and physical health in the workplace, so you can learn how to make a claim.

Your employer must provide safety and health training programs as indicated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in order to keep you safe and educated about your safety. It’s your employer’s job to make sure that you understand what kinds of unsafe conditions exist in your workplace. It’s also his or her job to make sure you aren’t exposed to those hazards due to them being uncontrolled or present in your work environment. For instance, if you are required to handle caustics, poisons, or other kinds of harmful substances, you should know how to handle them safely. Even if you’re previously educated on how to work with the substances, it’s important that you are given more information on the safe handling and use of these items in accordance to your workplace’s rules and requirements. On top of that, you should receive information on the potential hazards caused by the substances, learn about how personal hygiene can affect those substances, and be told about the kinds of personal protective measures that you can take to stay safe. If you’re hurt because these rules aren’t enforced or made obvious in the workplace, it’s important that you are able to file a claim for workers’ compensation. You may also have a case against your employer for violating federal safety regulations. Our website has more information on what to do if you’ve been hurt at work because of negligence or disregard for your safety. By learning more about the laws, you can work with your attorney to make a solid case against the employer who caused your pain and suffering.

Working on the roads, you normally have a designated work zone. Cones tend to be set out, and your vehicle has indicators or reflectors to make it obvious to others. Work-in-progress signs, or other kinds, may be put up to alert drivers that you’re working, too. When drivers disregard your safety, you deserve to be compensated. You can be compensated through workers’ compensation, but you also may have the right to claim against the negligent driver. If you’ve lost a loved one in a work-related accident like this one, that may be what you’re trying to do. In this recent story, it was reported that a worker killed in Moore County has been identified, according to the news from Feb. 18. The man was working through a private contractor for the North Carolina Department of Transportation when a driver collided with him and his coworkers on the roadway. He and other workers were setting up a wood chipper when they were struck at around 8 a.m, during the height of the morning rush hour. The driver, who struck them on Plank Road, has been reported as a 50-year-old man from North Carolina. After hitting the workers, one man was killed immediately. Another was also injured; both had been inside a work zone when the accident took place. The second victim was airlifted to the hospital, while the first was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. There has been no news on the cause of the accident; the police have not indicated if distractions or intoxication could have been a factor. Source: North Carolina News, “Worker killed in Moore County crash identified,” Feb. 18, 2016

Work injuries take place all the time, and although some types may be in decline, they are still fairly common. If you’re hurt at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, and that can help you pay your medical bills and even cover some of your lost wages. Are injuries on the decline, though, and should you worry about injuries in the future? In 2014, there were close to 3 million nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor. That’s a rate of 3.2 cases of injuries per 100 full-time workers in 2014. In 2014, there was an increase in the number of hours worked in the private industry. What’s interesting is that there were actually 54,000 fewer nonfatal injuries and illnesses during that time, showing that most workplaces were actually getting safer. That is a trend that has been going on for around 12 years. When people were injured on the job, only around 1.7 out of 100 full-time workers had to take time off, transfer jobs, or work with restrictions. What this means is that even though some people were injured or ill, they were not badly injured or ill enough to take time away from work; the injuries and illnesses were not as severe as in past years. Out of the close to 3 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses suffered, 95.1 percent were injuries on the job. Most took place in service industries. Interestingly, out of those who suffered illnesses, the number who suffered from skin diseases declined in 2014, showing a lower risk of skin-related conditions in the workplace. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2014,” accessed Feb. 24, 2016

Occupational and work-related diseases vary, but anyone who works in a field for long enough may be exposed to these conditions. Work-related diseases can have many causes, from being exposed to hazards to working too many hours in a week. The work environment and a person’s own risk factors play an important role in the development of work-related diseases. Some common work-related diseases that people may have heard about in the past include asbestos-related mesothelioma, fatigue and exhaustion from being overworked, and repetitive strain injuries, which are caused by performing the same actions over and over again for many hours and days per week. Work-related illnesses and injuries don’t always appear right away. While injuries will usually come to a head during employment, illnesses aren’t as easy to recognize. Some won’t emerge until many years after a person leaves a job, making it his or her responsibility to file a claim for the suffering the person is now going through. A good example of this would be asbestos exposure. You may not suffer any illnesses for many years; suddenly, you could find you have developed mesothelioma. That disease specifically is linked to exposure to asbestos, so if you are able to show that you were exposed at work, then you could be able to make a claim and be compensated for having this illness. Occupational diseases can affect you, your family, and your future. Our website has more information on the illnesses that may be related to work and what you can do if you want to file a claim against an employer, whether you work at the company today or not.

Workplace accidents, in most cases, can be prevented with stringent rules on safety and steps to make sure everyone working knows what to do if hazards are seen. When workplaces are educated in safety techniques, it’s less likely for workers to be injured. If you’re hurt due to the carelessness of a coworker or as a result of malfunctioning machinery, you could be in a position to obtain workers’ compensation, because getting hurt on the job shouldn’t happen. A Port of Wilmington employee who was hurt during an accident is now part of an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, since he was pinned in an odd lift accident. The news, updated on Feb. 7, reports that the man had been working with others who were using a lift to replace the lighting fixtures inside a building. He had been inside the lift basket, based on the story, which makes what happened next surprising. While the team was working, the man became trapped between the guardrail of the lift basket and the fixtures. It’s not clear if he fell out of the basket or was caught on the lift while working on the fixture. Fortunately, a spotter who was on the ground was able to override the device’s controls, bringing the man down to the ground for emergency medical treatment. The man’s injuries have not been reported to the news, but OHSA has stated that it, as part of the North Carolina Department of Labor, will be investigating what happened and if negligence was a cause of this accident. Source: WECT 6, “Port of Wilmington employee hurt during accident, OSHA investigating,” Feb. 07, 2016

When you work for an employer, that employer should always have workers’ compensation insurance. Even if you’re not in a dangerous profession, it’s possible to have an accident at work. Slick floors on a wet day, climbing a ladder that collapses, or even getting a shock from an outlet can result in injuries in the course of your workday. If you get hurt and find out that your boss doesn’t have compensation, then you may have to work through other avenues with your attorney to get the money you need. A report out of North Carolina has shown that many companies in the state have been fined, because it’s been discovered that they don’t, or didn’t, carry workers’ compensation insurance. $1 million in civil fines have been collected by the commission responsible for enforcing insurance coverage. As of April 2012, there were around 30,000 employers in the state that had not purchased workers’ compensation, even though they were legally obligated to do so. Another 11,000 had either cancelled policies or allowed their policies to lapse. Another issue is that some companies have been misclassifying their employees, calling them independent contractors to avoid paying for workers’ compensation insurance. This will change in the future, though, because the commission plans to crack down on misclassification to help workers get the insurance coverage they need while they’re on the job. In 2015 alone, there were close to 2,000 cases that were affected due to an employer’s lack of coverage. At least 71 workers were injured while working for the employers who did not maintain proper insurance coverage. Source: Claims Journal, “North Carolina Gets $1M in Fines From Employers Without Workers’ Comp,” Jan. 13, 2016

As an individual in the workforce, being safe is a priority. Not all jobs are safe by nature; construction jobs require you to work with major equipment, sharp and heavy objects and other dangerous items. Even office jobs have times when an employee may be working on a ladder and have a risk of falling or could be working with scissors or sharp objects capable of puncturing an individual who falls, trips or is otherwise allowed to come into contact with the blade. To stay safe at work, it’s important to make sure you’re properly trained. If your employer isn’t willing to train you, then you may want to seek out advice from your attorney or your human resources department. It’s your employer’s job to manage the risks to his employees, and that means giving you proper training. You should know that you’re doing the job right before you’re left to do it alone. Would you expect a new worker to use a chainsaw without learning proper technique? Probably not, and that means you shouldn’t either. A supervisor or trainer should be there to help new workers learn the proper safety steps for using dangerous equipment. Another thing to know is how to seek help. Who do you contact if you get hurt? When there’s an emergency, you should call 911, but then what do you do? How does workers’ compensation come into play once you miss work? These are all important questions to have answered before you work a dangerous job. Most importantly, make sure you have the right safety equipment. Failing to have the right equipment can put you in serious danger. This is one safety problem that could be avoided. Source: Talking Safety With Young Workers, “Tips to stay safe at work,” accessed Jan. 27, 2016

Nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses impact thousands of Americans every year. In 2012, 155 million workers were part of the U.S. civilian labor force. Each of these people could be at risk of work-related injuries or illnesses, depending on their jobs and activities. If you’ve been hurt at work, you are already part of this statistic, but you shouldn’t be treated like one. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries and illnesses, because your job is what caused them. Whether you simply need a day of medical care and rest or you’re left with a disability, that’s what workers’ compensation is there for. In 2011, it was recorded that around 3 million workers in the private industry suffered from nonfatal occupational illnesses or injuries, while another 821,000 working for state or local governments suffered the same kinds of illnesses and injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that around 16 percent of all private-sector workers are in high-risk occupations, which means that these workers are more likely to suffer an injury or illness due to the type of jobs they work. Additionally, around three out of every four people working in these dangerous conditions were male. These illnesses and injuries are preventable on the whole. For instance, getting cut on machinery at work can likely be prevented with safety guards, and crashing a work vehicle can generally be avoided by paying attention or driving safely. Environments that take steps to prevent injuries save themselves and the economy money, since workers are able to work without missed days due to work-related injuries or illnesses. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Nonfatal Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses — United States, 2010,” Sherry L. Baron, MD Andrea L. Steege, PhD, accessed Jan. 21, 2016

Fighting fires is a very dangerous job, and the men and women who work in the field are courageous people who save lives and homes every day. Firefighting is not without risk, and many of these people are hurt every year in the line of duty. As of July 2013, an average of 31 firefighters had been killed on the job in each of the four previous years. Another 14,700 had suffered work-related injuries and illnesses. In 2011, 28 firefighters were fatally injured on the job. This was a decrease in the number of firefighters killed per year when you see that there had been 29 percent more deaths in 2003, but the number is still too high. Safe equipment can help, but the unpredictability of a building on fire still makes the job dangerous. What are the most common reasons for fatal injury or illness? Fires were the cause of 36 percent of all fatal injuries. Another 29 percent were related to transportation incidents. In 2011, half of the events were caused when a building, elements of a structure, or structure collapsed on the firefighters inside. On the roads, eight fatal transportation incidents took place that year. Five were due to roadway accidents, while one was aircraft based and another two involved pedestrians. The most common reason for injuries or illnesses that weren’t fatal included overexertion, falls, slips, trips, and contact with objects or equipment. It was most common for firefighters to injure the lower extremities, but the trunk and upper extremities were often also injured in accidents. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Firefighter Factsheet | July 2013,” accessed Jan. 11, 2016

When you work in any industry, it’s possible to suffer from occupational illnesses. These illnesses may appear gradually or suddenly over the course of many years. For instance, logging workers may suffer wear and tear on the joints, leading to repetitive strain injuries. Workers who come into contact with asbestos may suffer from mesothelioma or other lung-related disorders. In most cases, these illnesses can be prevented by either avoiding the harmful chemicals that workers were exposed to or by limiting the time a worker is operating machinery or actively working in the field. Overexertion is a prerequisite to illness that many workers suffer from. Twenty-seven out of every 10,000 workers who suffer injuries or illnesses do so as a result of being overworked. Strain-related conditions are also much more common for those who don’t get adequate rest. Take for instance factory workers. These workers often stand for multiple hours in a row; some may be repeating their arm or body motions dozens of times a minute. This can be good for business, but it hurts the body in the long run due to repetitive motion strains. Heat burns and scalding injuries are also a risk to some employees. These injuries happen at a rate of 1.6 per every 10,000 workers. That is a large number when you consider that the numbers aren’t just limited to food service workers. For people who suffer these injuries, it takes an average of eight days before they can return to work, which means an expensive productivity loss for the employer and lost wages for the employee. Our website has more information on what to do if you’re suffering a workplace illness. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case and find out if we can help you.

Is your illness a direct result of your work? How can you be sure? Does it matter as long as the illness presents itself while you’re on the job? When you’re trying to determine if an injury or illness is related to your job, it’s important to look at all factors of your work. For example, if you’re exposed to chemicals in your 30s, it could take until your 50s before any side effects or illnesses result. You also need to link your work environment to that injury. What is a work environment? Your work environment is a place where one or more employees work and are present as a condition of employment. That means that you have to be on site because of your job, and that makes the location your workplace and work environment. There are some cases when an injury or illness that happens at work won’t be considered work-related. For instance, if you were visiting your workplace off the clock when you’re injured, you may be considered a member of the public and not an employee at the time of the accident. If your injury and symptoms show up at work but you were hurt elsewhere, that could also make your illness non-work-related, which could mean you’ll be unable to claim workers’ compensation. The same is true if you’re injured in a voluntary position, like if you’re in an exercise class or baseball game that is not required by your job. Your attorney can discuss your personal situation with you if you’re not clear on if you can file for workers’ compensation or if you’ve been denied and believe you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries. Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Regulations,” accessed Dec. 31, 2015