With every step, you’re at risk for a slip and fall injury. If this injury happens on the clock, you can file for an injury claim and seek workers’ compensation. But which industries and their employees are most prone to slip and fall injuries on the clock? There are three specific industries that have high rates of slip and fall injuries in Minnesota, and we’ll highlight them, and explain why, in today’s blog.
Industries With High Slip And Fall Injuries
Here’s a look at three industries whose employees are often calling us about a slip and fall claim.
1. Medical Workers – Medical specialists, EMS personnel and nurses all put their bodies on the line to save other people, but they are one of the most prone industries for slip and fall injuries. This is true for a number of reasons. For starters, medical personnel are often moving at a quick pace to help a patient, and when you’re moving quickly and you miss a step, you can fall and get injured. Also, nurses and medical staff have to lift and transfer patients from beds and carts all the time, and if they lose their balance or fail to make the transfer, they can fall. Finally, since medical centers are typically lined with tile floors to assist in cleanup and decontamination, they can become extremely slippery is something is spilled. Even if medical staff are wearing non-slip shoes, a wet spot can be hugely problematic in a medical center.
2. Teachers and School Staff – Teachers and school workers are also at an increased risk for slip and fall injuries. The lunchroom is always a place for spills, as are the gleaming tile hallways. Similarly, all it takes is for one student to leave their backpack in a walkway to cause a trip and fall accident. Hundreds of teachers in Minnesota are injured by slip and fall injuries each year, and recent data shows that more than 34,000 educational workers are injured by slip and fall accidents annually. Wearing non-slip shoes can help, but considering a teacher’s wardrobe is a lot more flexible than a nurse’s, it’s no surprise that education employees are one of the industries that lead the way in slip and fall injuries.
3. Retail Workers – Retail workers are the final group that make the list. Again, you’ll often find workers in this industry working on slippery tile floors, a theme throughout this entire blog. They also need to stock high shelves and carry equipment throughout the store, and if they lose their balance on a step ladder or miss a step while carrying a box, a fall injury can easily occur. Again, slip-resistant shoes are helpful for workers in this industry, but they can only do so much.
So if you work in one of these industries, be careful with each step you take, but regardless of where you work, if you suffer a slip and fall injury in Minnesota, give Hey Workers a call and we’ll help you get the compensation you deserve.
