What Are Common Work Injuries in the Supply Chain?
The supply chain is heavily reliant upon warehouses to temporarily hold goods that are intended for market. Products are trucked in for workers to move to a temporary location until they are ready for final distribution to retailers.
Recent supply chain disruptions emphasize the importance of the supply chain for everyday people. Although the supply chain’s importance is well-known to most people, the accidents that occur in warehouses and other links in the supply chain often are overlooked.
The supply chain contains many potential dangers for those who work in it. The following are some of the most common injuries that workers suffer in the supply chain.
Injuries Caused by Slips, Trips, and Falls
About 20 percent of injuries that supply chain workers suffer occur due to slipping, tripping, and falling. A warehouse has lots of items that might break, spill onto the floor, or pose a hazard to workers.
Tripping over an item on the floor or slipping on a wet or slick surface might cause a soft tissue injury. Slipping, tripping, and falling could cause a more serious injury, including broken bones, a concussion, or worse.
Struck by or Caught Between Objects
Warehouses typically store items on tall and sturdy racks as well as on the floor. Sometimes, items are not properly secured and are apt to fall when subject to vibration or other movements. Someone might be working below and suffer a serious injury when struck by a falling object.
Moving pallets or large carts laden with products can block the vision of workers who are moving them. Other workers might not notice the items are in motion and could be struck by a load of goods being moved.
Workers also might get pinned between one or two moving objects and a stationary object and suffer a serious injury or worse.
Heavy Lifting or Repetitive Strain Injuries
Improper lifting of heavy items accounts for about 30 percent of all injuries to workers in the supply chain. Repetitive motion injuries also commonly afflict supply chain workers. A back strain, torn muscle, or other soft tissue injuries could make it difficult to continue working or to engage in other common daily activities. Repetitive motion injuries might include a slipped disc, carpel tunnel, and trigger finger, among others.
Contact With Hazardous Materials
The supply chain includes the handling of hazardous materials used for industrial purposes. When an accident occurs while handling hazardous materials, workers can be exposed to caustic and potentially deadly chemicals and gases.
It is vital that job providers thoroughly train and properly equip workers to handle hazardous materials as safely as possible. Just one accident could cause serious injuries and loss of life.
Highland Park Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Uphold Injured Workers’ Rights
If your benefits are denied after suffering a work-related injury, the Highland Park Workers’ Compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr can help. You can contact us online or call 877-249-4600 or 732-537-8570 to schedule a free consultation. From our office in Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients in New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia.
