The holidays are a time for people in California to celebrate with friends and family, give thanks, and come together for fun. Unfortunately, it’s also prime season for workplace injuries as workers scramble to meet increased demand in many economic sectors. Here are the most common holiday season injuries affecting workers.
Back injuries
Back injuries are one of the primary causes of injuries listed in workers’ compensation claims that are filed during the holiday season.
These injuries are most common in warehouses (like mailrooms) and industrial setting jobs that require repetitive heavy lifting. Even with certain safety protocols, backs are particularly vulnerable to injury due to strain. In fact, in some cases – like wearing a back brace – safety protocols may even be counterproductive as they give the worker the impression of protection against injury.
Burns
Machines that are running hot are often the source of burns for workers as well as fires that are not properly contained. Sometimes, steam-generating equipment also causes burns.
Chemical exposures
Although OHSA has done a great deal to eliminate workers’ exposure to toxic substances, no protection regime is fully protective when harmful chemicals are in play. Workers are most often exposed to harmful chemicals via ingestion, absorption, injection/puncture or inhalation.
What to do if you’re hurt on the job this holiday season
If you or a loved one is hurt on the job, priority number one is seeking medical attention for your injuries. If it’s an emergency, go to a hospital for immediate help. If it’s not an emergency, schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. In addition to protecting your health, documenting your injuries by visiting a doctor is critical to getting compensated for your injuries down the road.
The next step is to get better. If your workplace injury results in time off due to an inability to work or other damages, you likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Stay safe this holiday season by following all appropriate safety protocols. If you are injured, seek immediate help and document your injuries.