St Louis Work Accident Lawyer – Injuries Sustained by Textile Mill Workers

Workers in textile production face many workplace hazards and are at risk for a variety of work-related injuries.

Workers in the manufacturing sector are exposed to a wide variety of  hazards. Industrial workers, such as those working in textile production, spend long hours on the production floor, bending over machinery, and standing for prolonged periods of time. There are other occupational risks as well that these workers face. The workplace is often noisy and there are odors and airborne fibers that can cause serious illnesses when inhaled. Even though safety equipment and personal safety gear such as earplugs, masks, and clothing have made working in textile mills less hazardous, there is still a significant risk of injuries.

Common Workplace Hazards

Textile workers are faced with a variety of hazards at the workplace. Injuries can result from direct and sudden trauma such as getting a limb stuck in a machine or from repetitive and cumulative stress and strain. Some of the most common causes of injuries among textile production workers include:

• Overexertion – Stretching to reach, bending, repeated lifting, pulling and pushing can cause cumulative strain and sudden trauma. Overexertion can lead to injuries such as sprains and muscle, tendon, ligament or soft tissue tears. One of the most common overexertion injuries sustained by textile mill workers is carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Prolonged standing – Textile mill workers have to stand for long periods on concrete or other hard surfaces and this can cause swollen and painful legs or feet. It can also lead to a condition known as plantar fasciitis, which means inflammation of the connective tissue that extends from heel to the toe and supports the arch. Prolonged standing can also cause a variety of other conditions such as varicose veins, heel spurs, lower back pain, knee problems, and stiffness in the shoulder and neck area.
• Contact with machinery – Textile mill workers risk getting their hands, arms, or fingers stuck in machinery. This can cause severe tearing and crush injuries. It can also cause bruises, cuts, burns, and even loss of body parts.
• Exposure to noise – Textile mill workers are exposed to noise at high decibels, which can cause irreversible hearing damage. The use of protective earplugs can prevent loss of hearing.
• Exposure to dust and fibers – Inhalation of dust from natural or synthetic fibers can cause textile mill workers to develop respiratory illnesses such as asthma. These conditions can be acute or chronic. Mill workers who are exposed to asbestos at workplace are also at risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer.
• Other hazards – Textile mill workers are also exposed to other risks such as slip and fall accidents, fires and explosions, vehicle injuries, and equipment or objects falling on them.

Workers & Industry