According to recent studies, the average person spends an estimated 90,000 hours of their lifetime at work. That’s a lot of time for a life-altering injury to happen. Unfortunately, serious work injuries are actually very common. 

From motor vehicle accidents to unexpected slip and falls, danger can lurk around every corner. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take the correct precautions no matter what your job is. Here are the top 10 most common causes of work injuries:

Overexertion: Repeated behaviors such as pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying and throwing can lead to the overwork and strain of important muscles. This can cause pain in various areas of the body and limit the range of motion. 

Slip and Falls: Falls on wet floors or tripping over misplaced items is one of the top causes for workplace injuries. These types of injuries can cause sprains, bruises, cuts, and broken bones.

Falling from High Places: These types of accidents stem from being on high surfaces or using a ladder. Faulty equipment or misuse of the tool is one of the primary causes of this injury. A major fall can put you out of work for a long period of time and may require legal assistance. According to a Phoenix workers’ compensation attorney, it can be crucial to your physical and mental health after a workplace injury to “… get compensation for lost wages and mounting medical bills.”

Transportation Accidents: When traveling to and from work, as well as for work, there are many ways to get seriously injured. Transportation accidents can include being struck by a work vehicle or backed over by a work vehicle. Injuries from this type of accident can include something as small as a minor bruise to something as serious as numerous broken bones. 

Repetitive Motion: A common cause of Carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive motion activities put pressure on the same nerves, which can cause numbness and pain in the wrists and hands. 

Hazardous Materials: It’s important for employees to use protective eye-wear, gloves and clothing when around chemicals and toxic waste. Not wearing the proper attire can lead to serious injuries including burns, respiratory diseases, blindness, skin infections and even death.

Work injuries happen every single day, affecting tens of thousands of people around the world. It’s important to follow workplace protocol while also using common sense to avoid becoming part of this scary statistic.