Surprising Causes of Workplace Accidents

Most people would not be surprised to hear that roofing is considered a dangerous job. We all know that working at high elevations carries a risk of falls. Working with heavy equipment on a construction site or in an oilfield is also hazardous and likely to result in injuries on the job.

But there are many other situations where workers get hurt in ways they never expected. Workers who are hurt in unusual ways have the same legal rights as those injured while working at traditionally hazardous jobs. It is important for all workers to be aware of their rights and how to work toward recovery when they’ve been hurt on the job, especially when injuries take them by surprise.  

Falls Can Be Caused by an Endless Variety of Circumstances

When we think of dangerous falls in the workplace, we tend to picture someone falling from a great height, like scaffolding. But the fact is that anytime an adult falls, even a small distance, the impact can do severe damage and lead to lasting injuries and disabilities.

Workers have suffered life-altering injuries from falling in situations that seemed to pose no risk. Examples include:

• Tripping over extension cords while moving away from a desk
• Slipping on a floor mat or a freshly-polished floor
• Falling after leaning on a railing or other feature that gave way
• Tripping over boxes of decorations while preparing the office for a holiday party
• Falling over while reaching high to obtain files on a high shelf

There are some famous examples, such as a worker who slipped on a pickle dropped on the floor in the break room and suffered broken vertebrae. Even an employee sitting quietly at a desk can be at risk. An administrative worker was typing at her computer when her chair collapsed, dropping her to the floor and causing extensive damage to her pelvis that required surgery and left her with chronic pain and incontinence.

Workers can fall and suffer injuries in all types of settings. Often, the employer is at fault for failing to remedy dangerous conditions that triggered the fall. An employer might be liable for poor lighting, failure to clean up a mess, failure to properly maintain equipment, or other actions that caused a fall. Even when someone falls a short distance, they can suffer serious injuries to the spine and spinal cord, hips, arms, and other parts of the body. Falls from greater heights often result in traumatic brain injuries. Any one of these injuries can permanently impact a worker’s ability to function and result in long-term pain.

Unusual Circumstances

Ordinary workplaces that seem to be no more dangerous than the homes that employees return to at the end of a workday can often be the scene of bizarre injuries. Workers have been injured by vending machines that tipped over or malfunctioned. They have suffered chemical burns and poisoning from situations where cleaning products or other chemicals were placed in ordinary drinking cups. They have been burned by sitting on steam-cleaned chairs and sofas. They have been hit in the head by frozen fish and other objects flung from conveyor belts. And when co-workers start behaving irresponsibly, injuries worsen.

In one case, a worker hitting golf balls eventually smacked a co-worker in the head, causing brain injuries. In another case, a grateful worker hugged a co-worker so hard that the gesture caused back injuries. When two workers who found a bowling ball got tired of throwing it around, they decided to take turns smashing it with a hammer instead. A piece splintered off and hit one of them in the eye, and he lost his vision as a result.

An employer may not necessarily be liable every time a worker suffers an injury on the job site, but often the situation that caused the injury was within the employer’s control, and the employer failed to take appropriate steps to keep workers safe. When an attorney can demonstrate that an employer’s failure to fulfill duties is what caused an injury, that can enable the injured employee to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and future effects of the injuries.

Violence in the Workplace

It is unfortunate but true that workers are frequently harmed by the violent conduct of customers, co-workers, and others who enter the workplace. In these situations, an attorney may be able to obtain compensation from the person who committed the violent act, but that individual may not be in their right mind and may not have any resources to cover the worker’s losses. If the negligent security or other negligence on the part of an employer enabled the violent attack to occur or allowed it to be worse than it would have otherwise been, then the victim may be able to receive compensation from the employer as well as the assailant, particularly if the attacker was an employee.

Other Unexpected Workplace Injuries

There are other injuries, like falls, that can occur in all types of situations, including ordinary office settings. These include:

• Electrocution
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Lung damage caused by inhaling toxic substances
• Fires and explosions
• Accidents involving transportation in cars or trucks

Employers owe a duty to provide a reasonably safe workplace, and when they fail to meet their obligations, an attorney can work to hold them responsible.

Contact DeKeyzer Law for a Free Case Evaluation

Workplace injuries catch people by surprise all the time in Alvin and the greater Houston area. When the injury is caused or made worse by someone’s negligence, it only makes sense to hold that person or company responsible and require them to shoulder some of the burden for the harm they’ve caused.

If you were hurt at work, we invite you to contact the knowledgeable team at DeKeyzer Law for a free case evaluation and consultation to learn more about the assistance we may be able to provide and the compensation that could be available in your case. Just contact us online or call us at 713-904-4004 to get started.