Can Employers Prevent Work-Related Back Injuries In Florida?
If you have injured your back on-the-job, don’t just assume that you are to blame for your injuries. There may be other factors to blame that lead to your workplace accident in Florida, including a negligent employer, careless co-worker, lack of training, or deficient ergonomic designs.
According to the U.S. Dept of Labor, back injuries are the biggest safety problem in the workplace nationwide. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that over one million workers sustain back injuries every year from work accidents. Statistics indicate that four out of five people injured suffer injuries to their lower back, and three out of four of those injuries occurred from lifting.
There is no way to eliminate all back injuries from occurring at work, but employers could help to prevent these injuries from occurring by:
- Providing thorough safety training
- Developing guidelines on how to lift safely to minimize stress on lower back
- Providing better ergonomic designed work tasks
- Reduce the allowable weight or size of the objects being lifted
- Providing back belts to employees who lift objects
- Providing an adjustable shelf or pallet
- Installing lifts, automated equipment and conveyors to aid workers
Not all back injuries occur from lifting accidents. Employees may injure their back in a slip and fall accident, construction accident, jobs that involve continuous standing, or jobs that involve the same repetitive motion. Back injuries affect many employees in many different industries and can vary from person to person.
If you suffered a disc herniation, lower back pain, spinal stenosis, or another back injury in Florida and cannot work due to your pain, you should not have to suffer alone or be financially responsible for your injuries. The negligent party should be held accountable for the injuries you suffered.
If you have injured your back at work in Florida, you may have legal rights under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. Find out what your rights are by calling a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer in Fort Lauderdale today.Contact the Law Office of David Benenfeld at 954-677-0155 to schedule a free legal consultation.
