Blue-collar workers generally recognize that they are more likely than those in office space professions to get hurt on the job. Most people understand that factory workers and construction professionals have a greater overall risk of injury and a better chance of a serious job-related health issue when compared with those in more sedentary professions, for example.
Numerous factors influence the likelihood of a blue-collar worker getting hurt. The three factors below contribute to a large number of reported injuries and fatalities involving blue-collar workers, although the risks that these workers face are certainly not contained to these common concerns.
Heavy machinery
The presence of heavy machinery in a workplace automatically increases someone’s risk of severe or fatal injury on the job. From machine presses to forklifts, the equipment that makes a job faster and more precise can also lead to severe injury for a worker if it malfunctions or an operator has even a moment of distraction. Blue-collar workers in many different professions will have to work in close proximity with heavy machinery, which may ultimately lead to a workers’ compensation claim if they get hurt.
Dangerous environments and chemical
Construction workers may need to do their job at a significant elevation, which means that they might fall and get hurt. Road crews have to do their jobs close to traffic. Even those in factories may have environmental risks, such as exposure to dangerous chemicals that could sicken someone with prolonged exposure. Particularly when companies do not adequately disclose environmental and chemical risks or train workers on how to use safety equipment to mitigate such risks, the possibility of a serious incident on the job increases.
Over-exertion
Blue-collar workers often pride themselves on taking overtime whenever it is available and showing up to work even if they had to get up repeatedly throughout the night because their child was ill. Fatigue could potentially affect someone’s physical strength and mental acuity while working. Overexertion could also mean pushing the body too far, such as lifting more than one safely can or performing the same function repeatedly until it causes cumulative trauma symptoms.
Blue-collar workers often need to take time away from their jobs and may require extensive medical treatment to get back to full functionality when they get hurt because of their employment. Learning more about different workplace risk factors may help employees to prevent potentially injurious circumstances. With that said, accidents can happen despite someone’s best efforts, so learning about one’s workers’ compensation rights is generally a good proactive idea as well.