Trip, slip and fall hazards exist anywhere that a person can walk. In fact, this trio of incident types is actually responsible for a majority of workplace injuries. Back pain, some of which results from trip and fall injuries, also makes up the number one reason for missed work shifts.
But just how can a fall hurt a person? What are the most common injuries associated with falling?
Head, neck and spine damage
The United States Department of Labor examines workplace falls, which can cause numerous injuries. Of course, the type of injury depends on the height of the fall. While many people only fall from their own height to the floor, falls from even higher distances can and do occur.
For falls of all heights, some of the most common injuries involve the back, neck and head. Spinal damage may occur, and head trauma may also happen if the victim knocks their head on the ground too hard.
Broken bones
Broken bones serve as another potential point of concern. Many victims can break the bones that they land on. Often, this is the tail bone or the legs. Of course, broken bones take a long time to heal, and the victim may not have the chance to return to work during this healing period. The same goes for back injuries, which have an even longer heal time.
Financially, it is in a company’s best interest to cut down the risk of falls at work. Victims who end up suffering from an injury due to a fall may also want to look into actions they can take to seek compensation against those responsible, as recovery can be costly.