Work Injuries & Accidents

If you’ve had an accident at work, you may be wondering whether your injury is work-related or not. Work-related accidents are defined as any injury, illness, or condition you experience during your employment with a company, and related to your job duties and tasks while at work.

These injuries are further categorized into physical injuries, occupational illnesses, and repetitive stress injuries.

PHYSICAL INJURIES ON THE JOB

The most common workplace accidents are physical accidents. These can be:

• Injuries resulting from a staff member’s personal work. For example, hurting their back while lifting heavy items or falling off a ladder.
• Injuries caused by other people’s actions. For example, being hit by machinery on a construction site.
• General workplace accidents. For example, tripping over an item and twisting an ankle.

Common physical on-the-job accidents include damage to the:

• Muscles
• Tendons
• Feet
• Ankles
• Wrists and hands
• Head, face, and neck
• Shoulders and back

OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES ON THE JOB

Occupational illnesses are conditions that you contract, develop, or worsen because of your job duties. For example, if you work in a hospital, you may contract a contagious disease or illness.

If you work in a factory, conditions like asthma, COPD, or asbestosis resulting from dust or fumes can lead to occupational illness and disease. Such conditions can develop immediately or gradually with years of exposure.

REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY

A repetitive stress injury is otherwise known as an RSI. An RSI is the third type of accident that may be covered by workers’ compensation.

A repetitive stress injury can occur when you perform the same task or activity every day for an extended period. One of the most common repetitive stress injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome.

RSIs occur across all occupations and industries. If your work role is physical and requires you to continually bend over, carry heavy objects, scan items, or move in a particular way, you may be more likely to develop an RSI.