A TBI (traumatic brain injury) is a common and tragic occurrence in the workplace. In fact, approximately 60 percent of workers’ compensation head injury claims were associated with a TBI.
With that said, some occupations pose a higher risk of an individual getting a TBI than others. Here are four careers with high a TBI risk.
Professional driving
Driving a taxi, delivery car or truck puts workers at risk for head injuries since they are on the road a lot. And it’s not just sharing the road with other vehicles that heighten the danger for drivers. There are other hazards like disruptive passengers or fallen cargo.
Construction work
Workers in the construction industry deal with dangers like dropping concrete, tripping and/or falling — all of which can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Hard hats can decrease the risk of head injuries, and employers should replace them every other year, according to the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
Nevertheless, some workers suffered head injuries because they were not wearing them correctly or their employers did not enforce head protection rules.
Warehouse/Manufacturing
People in warehousing positions operate machinery, lift heavy products and engage in other related tasks. Stacks of pallets can tumble and drop on someone’s head, or a machine can explode and hit a worker’s skull with a screw or another metallic component.
EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) first response
Even those who tend to injured or sick people are at risk for traumatic brain injuries. For example, debris from a collapsing building can hit and knock out a firefighter attempting to save a burn victim. Or a police officer can get a head injury from a combative, upset individual.
These and other related occupations do a lot of good but also come with the risks of traumatic brain injuries. If you or someone you know got a traumatic brain injury on the job, go ahead and reach out to legal assistance to learn about workers’ compensation.