I Got Hurt on the Job. How Can You Help?

If you get hurt on the job, you may have a lot of questions about what to do next. After telling your supervisor, you need to seek treatment for your injuries. A lot of what happens next depends on what type of injury you have and the expected recovery time you need before you can get back to your job.

Unfortunately, workplace injuries are very common. In 2021, workers experienced 2.6 million nonfatal injuries while on the job. The providers at Cermak Immediate Care explain more about getting treatment for workplace injuries.

Types of workplace injuries

You can get injured on the job in a surprising variety of ways. Some of the most common include:

Environmental injuries

Environmental injuries can be caused by some of the following factors:

• Temperature (often heat-related but not always)
• Air and water pressure changes
• Electricity

If you’ve suffered from an environmental workplace injury, sometimes the amount of time that you need to be out of work is minimal. But changes may need to be put in place to make your workplace safer, which is not always easily done.

Back injuries

Back injuries are by far the most common type of workplace injury, with over 8,000 each day (or 350 every hour.) 

Being treated for a back injury can sometimes be a fairly lengthy process. Though pain relievers may be a prescribed option, be careful to take them as directed. You also want to avoid becoming dependent on them, which can lead to a difficult cycle of addiction.

The best strategy for avoiding back injuries is to prevent them. While that doesn’t help once an injury has occurred, you can try to slow down, only lift heavy objects with a helper, and use proper lifting techniques, such as using your legs rather than your back.

Falls and slips

Falls and slips can happen easily in the workplace, especially if you work on slippery floors. You can take efforts to prevent these mishaps by wearing appropriate shoes with nonslip soles.

If you do end up falling or slipping while at work, the extent of your injuries can depend on how you land. If you sprain an ankle or twist your knee, for example, you may need physical therapy to restore your health to its previous condition.

Contact with objects or equipment

This category involves injuries caused by contact with an object, such as being struck by a pipe, and injuries caused by equipment. These can include the following:

• Injury caused by a collapsing structure
• Injury caused by friction or pressure
• Being squeezed, compressed, or pinched by equipment
• Being struck by a moving object

These injuries can be significant, so you need to have them checked out immediately.

Other types of injuries

The above list of injuries doesn’t represent all of them. There are many ways in which you can become hurt on the job. A number of other factors also contribute to workplace injuries, such as:

• Chemical burns
• Accidental poisoning
• Industrial asthma
• Stress-related injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome
• Electrocution

If you’ve been hurt at work, you should first inform your supervisor. After that, it’s important to seek treatment right away. In fact, failing to get treatment quickly enough can even damage any possible case you may have against your employer if you choose to go that route. 

Contact the providers at Cermak Immediate Care for an appointment. You can also walk in for an appointment at any time, or request a visit online.