Accidents in the workplace commonly occur in Ohio and often result in serious injury or even death. The Brannon Law Firm is dedicated to representing workers who have been injured on the job. Injuries can occur in a variety of work environments including distribution facilities, warehouses, factories, machine shops, construction sites, jobs that require driving equipment and farming accidents. Ohio employees are afforded protection under very specific safety regulations at both State and Federal levels. This includes, but is not limited to, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration Guidelines (OSHA) and the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). All employers are required to maintain a safe workplace, including work equipment, machinery, cleanliness, training, and safety procedures. Unfortunately, some employers are more concerned with profits than worker safety.
The laws setting forth your rights and obligations after a workplace accident can be complex and confusing. Many times, workplace accidents involve issues of workers compensation and subrogation. However, it is often necessary to look beyond the typical remedies offered by the workers compensation system to obtain recoveries for injured workers. Liability for workplace injuries can often be linked to defective products, subcontractors, third parties, and property owners. These can all potentially provide additional sources of recovery beyond the standard workers compensation system.
Contact our Workplace Accident Attorneys in Dayton
Accidents in the workplace can span from trip and falls over loose carpeting to catastrophic crush injuries from heavy machinery. Ohio workers in some industries face risks of serious injury and death every workday. Employees who sustain injuries on the job need to understand as much as possible about these incidents and their rights moving forward. Workers’ compensation is just one of several possible outlets for recover after a workplace injury. The Brannon Law Firm can litigate these cases with support from years of related experience. Call us today and schedule free consultation (937) 228-2306
Common Causes of Work Injuries
The cause of a workplace injury is the heart of any claim. Identifying the proximate cause of the accident can lead to proving liability for your medical bills, pain and suffering, disability, and other damages. Although a workplace injury can arise from virtually any circumstances, there are common causes that exist in the personal injury realm. As a worker in Ohio, be on the lookout for these frequent causes:
- Negligence is the basis for most workplace accident claims. Negligence is any act or failure to act that goes against accepted industry standards, resulting in harm to another person. Careless employers, coworkers, and third parties can cause workplace accidents by failing to fulfill their duties. For example, an employer could hire an unqualified, untrained driver to save money.
- Poor maintenance. If your workplace doesn’t emphasize proper maintenance, this can result in harmful system breakdowns. Poorly maintained properties can pose hazards such as obstacles in the walkway or inadequate lighting. Badly maintained equipment can lead to malfunctions and breaks at the worst possible times. These incidents could point to employer or property owner liability.
- Vehicle collisions. Car accidents are some of the most common circumstances surrounding worker injury and death in the U.S. When operating near or on vehicles at work, pay close attention to your surroundings. Never position yourself between vehicles or between a vehicle and a fixed object. Only those with proper training and certifications should operate workplace vehicles.
- Cutting corners. Several federal and state organizations regulate most industries in Ohio. There are certain things employers must do to ensure the safety of employees including providing safety gear, training programs, and daily procedures. Cutting corners to complete a job faster or for less money can lead to safety code violations and harmful accidents.
- Defective products. Sometimes worker injuries don’t stem from anything within the workplace but rather an issue with the equipment itself. Products that workers handle every day, from chemical substances to tools, can have defects that make them unreasonably dangerous for use. This could come down to manufacturer liability.
There are dozens of reasons workplace accidents happen. These are just five of the most common. If you have reason to suspect that any of the above-mentioned factors played a role in your recent workplace injury, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. These lawsuits can often lead to greater compensation than Ohio Workers’ compensation claims. Speak to our workplace accident attorneys as soon as you can after a work-related injury to learn more.
Ohio Workplace Accident Statistics
According to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the year 2017 saw a total of 174 fatal occupational injuries cases recorded in Ohio, marking a 6 percent increase from 2016’s 164 reported fatal occupational injury cases.
162 fatal injuries out of the 174 total cases in 2017 occurred in the private industry, public employers saw the least amount of fatal occupational injuries with 12 reported cases for the year 2017. To better understand the data presented, we looked at fatal occupation injuries in Ohio divided by industry.
The top 3 occupational industries with the highest levels of fatal injuries:
- Transportation (36 fatal injuries)
- Construction (32 fatal injuries)
- Administrative & Waste Services (21 fatal injuries)
- The construction industry saw a large jump in fatal occupation cases between 2016 and 2017 with a 39% increase from 23 to 32 cases reported.
- The Administrative & Waste Services industry saw the sharpest increase of 62%. Increasing from 13 cases in 2016 to 21 cases in 2017.
- Some industries recorded significant decreases in fatal injuries as well. Including the Agriculture industry going from 19 cases to 11 cases in 2017, and the Accommodation & Food services industry from 12 cases in 2016 to only 4 by the end of 2017.
The work events that cause the most occupational fatal injuries in Ohio:![]()
The top three events with the highest rates of fatal injuries in Ohio:
- Transportation Incidents: 54 cases
- Violence: 31 cases
- Falls, Slips, & Trips: 29 cases
We also saw a good decrease from 2016 to 2017 in reported cases with the events: Harmful Substances (28 cases to 25 cases), and Fires & Explosions (4 cases to 1 case).
Additional Findings:
- Men accounted for 152 cases of the total 174 recorded fatal occupational cases (87 percent), a decrease from last year’s 91 percent of all cases.
- The age group with the highest percentage of fatal industries is the 55 and older group, with 66 fatal injuries in 2017 accounting for 38 percent of the total number of fatal injury cases.
- There was a spike in pedestrian vehicular incidents causing injuries in 2017 with 15 cases. This represents a 36 percent increase from the year 2016.
The Brannon Law Firm is experienced in litigating workplace accidents and will investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding your workplace injury to determine who is at fault for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured while performing job related duties, our personal injury attorneys in Dayton may be able to help. Call our offices today for a free consultation with an attorney in our office, your home, or a hospital room.