While injuries can occur at any place, time, or location, one may assume the workplace would be the last place they’d hurt themselves. Unfortunately, however, workplace injuries are incredibly common in many different industries. In fact, according to the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts, in 2017 alone, over 150,000,000 workers suffered medical injuries and preventable injury-related deaths. New studies show how employers in various industries can help prevent fatal and non-fatal workplace injuries.
A recent study by George Mason University measured eye movements and cognitive processes for at-risk workers to produce new methods of averting work-related accidents and injuries. This study, in particular, utilized eye-tracking experiments to build a framework for error detection in order to compute the likelihood of human error in the workplace. Researchers have linked eye movement and the attention of employees with working-memory load and decision making in order to comprehend how and why workers in more dynamic environments – such as those on a construction jobsite – fail to detect, comprehend, and/or respond to various physical risks. The study found:
Another study from the University of Maryland analyzed the impacts these elements have on human failures in the operation of power plants. The findings showed the ability to accurately model human reliability can improve safety in multiple industries, such as in nuclear power and aviation.
Despite new research, job-related accidents and injuries can and will likely continue to occur. Because of this, employees should know what to do following a workplace injury. These steps include:
Immediately following an injury at work, it’s important for the injured employee to consult with a doctor as soon as possible. This includes going to the emergency room if necessary.
A workplace injury must be reported to the employer within 30 days of the date of the accident or the date the injury was discovered. The employee should be sure to ask for and keep his or her own copy of any incident report or accident report they complete.
It is a good idea to consult with a workplace injury attorney to ensure you are taking the right steps toward recovery. Under Texas law, employees have the right to hire a Houston personal injury attorney to assist with their workplace injury claims. This is especially important, as insurance companies are unlikely to be on the employee’s side. In addition, the claims process can be delayed, which can have a major impact on the quality of life of the injured employee and their family. Additionally, no matter the severity of the injury, consulting with a personal injury attorney can be beneficial in determining potential compensation.
While the potential for new methods of curbing work-related injuries is interesting, accidents at work remain incredibly prevalent. Additionally, many workplace accidents occur due to lack of proper safety protocols, unsafe work environments, as well as negligent coworkers. At Ramsey Law Group, our Houston workplace injury lawyers have successfully represented injured workers, obtaining compensation to help them get back on their feet following an accident. If you or someone you know was injured at work, contact us today to learn more about how we can help.