If you work in transportation, warehousing, construction, or healthcare, your chances of being injured on the job are high, according to a recent study. Researchers from the Massachusetts departments of Public Health, Industrial Accidents and Labor Standards recently analyzed more than 92,000 statewide workers’ compensation claims between 2014-2016.

The report focused on these key areas:

• Causes of workplace injuries and illnesses
• The most common injuries and illnesses
• Injury rates by industry and job type

Which industries have the highest claim rate in Massachusetts?

Transportation and warehousing had the highest claim rate, accounting for 29.3 claims per 1,000 full-time workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation and warehousing sector involves transporting passengers and cargo, storing inventory in warehouses, scenic and sightseeing transportation, and transportation for other purposes.

Among subsectors, couriers and messengers had a claim rate of 46.4 and truck transportation had a rate of 34.2.

According to the report, transportation and warehousing was followed by:

• Construction — claim rate of 18.3
• Health care and social assistance — claim rate of 12.4
• Retail trade — claim rate of 12.1
• Wholesale trade — claim rate of 13.4

What are the leading incidents and injuries?

Overexertion and bodily reaction was the most common type of injury, accounting for nearly 38.1 percent of all claims. This was followed by:

• Slips, trips, and falls — 28.7 percent of claims
• Contact with objects or equipment — 19.2 percent of claims
• Transportation incidents — 5.5 percent of claims
• Violence involving a person or animal — 4.6 percent of claims

The majority of workers’ compensation claims (95.4 percent) involved injuries. The rest involved illnesses (3.7 percent). Most claims involved:

• Sprains and strains — 51.3 percent of claims
• Contusions, crushing, bruises — 11.7 percent of claims
• Fractures — 8.8 percent of claims
• Cuts, lacerations, punctures — 8.4 percent of claims

How likely am I to sustain an injury on the job?

Work-related injuries or illnesses can happen in any industry or workplace. That’s why all Massachusetts employees who were hurt on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which covers medical expenses and wage loss.

If you were hurt or become ill on the job, you must notify your employer and seek medical attention as soon as possible. That statute of limitations in Massachusetts is four years from the date of the incident.

In order to avoid having your claim denied, all paperwork must be properly filled out and your claim must be filed in a timely manner. More importantly, it’s critical to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can help streamline the process and maximize your chances of receiving benefits.

The Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl represents injured workers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Contact us online to get started on your claim.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 24th, 2020 at 10:28 pm and is filed under workers' compensation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.