Construction professionals, roofers, window washers and tree trimmers are among those who are at especially high risk of a fall from a dangerous elevation while working. However, when looking at workplace safety statistics, some of the careers most associated with fall injuries involve professionals in commercial spaces, not outside of buildings. Hospital workers and building maintenance professionals are among those at the highest risk of falling, likely because they might experience a same-level fall on the job.
What kinds of serious injuries might require workers’ compensation benefits after a same-level fall?
1. Soft tissue injuries
People tend to tense their bodies when they fall. They also flail, which can cause overexertion and overextension injuries. Soft tissue injuries sustained in a fall can impact a worker’s ability to perform key functions for multiple weeks or even several months.
2. Broken bones
Fractures when people fall at the same level can be debilitating in some cases. Especially when workers are over the age of 50 or have certain underlying medical conditions, they may be vulnerable to especially bad breaks when they fall. Those in service-based or blue-collar professions may not be able to perform important job tasks until they heal and complete physical therapy to regain lost function.
3. Brain injuries
When people fall, they can hit their heads. Blunt-force trauma to the head can cause changes to the structure of the brain due to swelling inside the skull. A person does not need to fall a significant distance for a permanent brain injury to be possible.
Pursuing workers’ compensation benefits after a same-level fall requires that an injured worker follow the right procedures. Employees who have assistance are less likely to make mistakes that can limit their benefits or result in a contested claim.