There are a number of reasons that can cause a person to slip and fall at work. 
Each year there are thousands of slip and fall work related accidents. These types of accidents can result in serious injury, even death and are the most common type of workplace accidents. According to OSHA, 15% of accidental deaths in the workplace are the result of slipping and falling. With this grim statistic in mind, it is important to understand how these accidents often happen and how to avoid them.
Understanding Slip and Fall Injuries
“Slip and fall” is a term used to describe an incident where a person slips or trips and then falls. When this happens on another person’s property, such as at work, this can become a personal injury case. When injury, or death, results at work it becomes the responsibility of the workers compensation insurance to pay for medical expenses and other expenses the fall within the boundaries of the insurance.
There are a number of reasons that can cause a person to slip and fall at work. Some of the more common ones include:
- poor lighting
- wet floor
- torn carpeting
- changes in floor design
- objects obstructing a walkway
- uneven work surfaces
These describe some of the things that may cause a person to slip and fall at ground level. However, other types of slip and fall injuries happen due to a person working on a ladder or scaffold.
Slip and Fall Injuries at Work
There are many accident prevention techniques that should be in place at your place of employment. For instance, repairs should often be made to areas of carpeting that are torn. Cracks, holes and other surface defects should be repaired immediately. All walkways should be cleared and steps should be kept clean. Employees should be required to wear proper footwear at all times.
If a person’s job requires them to work on ladders or scaffolding, then proper safety measures need to be in place. Employees should be trained on how to work safely when working on them.
Contact a St. Louis Workers Compensation Lawyer
If you were injured at work, it is important to speak to a workers compensation lawyer about your legal rights and options. Contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300. Our legal team has a strong history of helping injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need.
photo credit: bclinesmith