Tired Workers Increase On-The-Job Accidents

“Employers can’t afford to ignore the effects of fatigue, burnout, chronic health conditions, high absenteeism, productivity losses, and accidents.”

That is a line from an HR Dive article that highlights the dangers of worker fatigue.

A National Safety Council survey found that 69 percent of workers feel tired at work, something increases the risk of on-the-job accidents and injuries. It found that employees most at risk are those performing shift work in manufacturing, utilities, construction, and transportation.

At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, we know that workplace fatigue is dangerous. We also know that it is only one of many risks that workers face daily.

Do you know where to turn if you have been injured at work?

When you need a San Diego work injury attorney, turn to the experienced team at Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP for help.

What Can Happen?

We know that there are any things that can happen to make a workplace unsafe. We want to cover some of the main areas of concern.

• Employees Overworked: this can show up in many forms. Many industries force their employees to work long hours while performing laborious tasks. This is common in the construction and manufacturing industries. Employees in the healthcare industry and law enforcement are often asked to work 12 or more hours in a row. Many firefighters and EMS personnel work 24-hour shifts.

• Undertrained Workers: employers have a responsibility to train their workers for each specific task they will be asked to perform. This includes ensuring that employees obtain all job-related certifications necessary for their industry. Undertrained workers are a danger to themselves and their fellow employees.

• Lack of Safety Measures: safety is important in every industry and every employer should focus on ways to improve workplace safety. This includes training all employees on proper safety measure for tools, equipment, and vehicles.

Whether you work in the private sector or for a government agency, employers have a responsibility to ensure worker safety.

For the latest reporting year in California, there were over 466,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported. For the state, the following occupations saw the highest incident rates:

1. Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

2. Installation, maintenance and repair

3. Construction and extraction

4. Transportation and material moving

5. Healthcare support

Around one of every 100 workers are injured on the job every year in California.

What Are Your Options

Workplace injuries can be devastating. Even minor injuries can leave you out of work for a period of time and we know that workers’ compensation does not cover your full income. Did you know that if you were injured due to a third party, you may be eligible for more compensation?

Regardless of what happened in your work leading to your injury, we want to help. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, our team will work with you to secure the compensation you need for all of your injury-related expenses. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our office.