When Are Workers More Prone to Injuries?

There are certain types of jobs and fields of work that are more inherently dangerous than others. Construction, for example, will always have a greater likelihood of physical injury than, say, a job that requires you to sit at a desk for most of the day.

But it’s not just the type of work that’s a factor in the likelihood of workplace injuries. The worker’s experience level will also play a big role in their likelihood of being injured. Specifically, newer employees are much more likely to suffer workplace injuries in Miami, FL than workers who have been on the job for quite some time.

Let’s take a closer look into this issue to determine the reasons for this, and the issues you should be aware of as a new worker in a high-risk job environment.

Newer workers are more susceptible to injury

When you think about it carefully, there are a couple simple explanations for why newer workers are more likely to be injured on the job. Newer workers do not have the same understanding of the work that more experienced workers do, and don’t have quite the same lay of the land just yet. They’re more prone to making “rookie mistakes” which, in certain lines of work, could prove dangerous for themselves or others.

This is not conjecture—it’s backed by research and statistics. One study performed by the Institute for Work and Health revealed that in their first few weeks on the job, employees are about three times more likely than someone who has been on the job for at least a year to suffer an injury that results in missed work time.

Some of the reasons for this are listed above. Researchers also speculated that newer workers might not be as familiar with their safety rights, or do not feel as comfortable speaking up to superiors if they encounter hazardous conditions on the job. This general lack of awareness of rights and risks and an unwillingness to “rock the boat,” so to speak, can make for a more dangerous situation for these newer workers.

As one might expect, the risk for new employees varies across industries. Some industries are inherently more dangerous for all workers, regardless of experience. In the study, workers who had less than a year of experience accounted for 45.4 percent of all injuries and illnesses. Focusing solely on the construction industry, however, that rate was 34.9 percent, which speaks to the risk factors for all workers and not just those who were new to the job.

In addition, industries with more seasonal or temporary workers were most likely to see higher levels of new employee injuries. Considering the frequent stopping and starting of this type of work, this tracks with the idea that newer workers are more likely to be injured on the job.

For more information about how to file for workers’ compensation if you’ve been injured on the job, contact an experienced Miami, FL personal injury attorney at Ruben J. Padron, PA today.

Categorised in: Personal Injury Attorney