Most Common Workplace Injuries and Prevention Strategies

Workplace injuries, despite improvements in working conditions and increased emphasis from employers on safety, still frequently occur. While the prevalence of workplace injuries has improved from decades ago, the risk for employees still remains high. Not only do these injuries impact the worker and their quality of life, but they also often place a significant financial burden on employers and society as a whole. A 2019 study by Liberty Mutual indicated that workplace injuries are costing U.S. companies over a billion dollars a week¹. Considering both the human and financial costs of injuries, it’s worth discussing which injuries occur regularly, and what can be done to further reduce injury rates.
The 5 most common workplace injuries, as outlined in the Liberty Mutual study¹ are as follows:

1. Overexertion Injuries — 23.7%
2. Falls on Same Level — 18.7%
3. Struck by Object/Equipment — 9.4%
4. Falls to Lower Level — 9.0%
5. Other Exertions or Bodily Reaction — 6.7%

The most astounding fact regarding this data is that almost 1 in 4 injuries are a result of overexertion. This reaffirms data from other studies (as well as data from the most common workplace injuries according to OSHA⁸), which confirms that the majority of work-related injuries are soft-tissue related, and not the result of cuts, lacerations, punctures, or fractures². Considering that many of these soft tissue injuries are not medically complex, it is often quite frustrating for employees, employers, and healthcare providers alike that some of these injuries occur without a defined mechanism of injury, and can persist for months and even years. Having said that, there are things that can be done to reduce injury rates, as well as prevent the likelihood of minor overexertion injuries becoming much more serious.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Implementing tactics to prevent injuries from occurring is a far better strategy for employers than even ensuring that the best medical providers are on the employer panel to manage injuries after they’ve occurred. Prevention strategies that have been shown to be effective in reducing injuries include:

1. Post Offer Employment Testing
2. Pre/Post Shift Stretching Routines
3. Early Symptom Identification Programs

Post Offer of Employment Testing (POET ) allows an employer to evaluate if a conditional new hire meets the essential physical demands of the job, while staying compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The POET is developed specifically from an onsite Physical Demands Analysis, which outlines the essential demands of each position.
By testing conditional new hires, employers are able to assess if the candidate will be able to complete the essential physical tasks (lifting, pushing/pulling, bending, squatting, etc.) and allow employers to know they’re hiring the right people for the job. Evidence has demonstrated that this process has been effective in reducing overexertion injuries^3,4.

Furthermore, understanding which movements/muscles are required to complete a particular job (based on the physical demand analysis) will allow for movement experts like physical therapists to create a pre or post-shift exercise routine. The intent of these exercises is to ensure soft tissue is properly warmed up prior to work. Post shift routines can also be effective ways to “cool down” soft tissue. Just like athletes need to warm-up/cool-down, industrial athletes will benefit from similar programs to keep their bodies healthy.

Another consideration as a “prevention strategy” is to act quickly when employees voice concerns related to soft tissue injuries. While this may seem counter-productive as an approach related to prevention, it is worth noting that multiple studies^2,5,6,7 have shown reductions in cost, improved outcomes, and/or reduced likelihood of recurrence (a form of prevention) as a result of allowing access to care quickly. While nobody is looking at ways to increase recordable injury rates, there is evidence that shows that positive experiences with the claims process (approval, access to care) facilitated a faster return to work and reductions in cost⁷.

Employing a formal Early Symptom Intervention plan can help identify and mitigate injuries before they can become worse and need further treatment. This can substantially decrease downstream costs for employers. Physical Therapists or other healthcare professionals can provide multiple interventions that are considered by OSHA as First Aid. These interventions can help prevent a lost time accident and keep a potential injury out of the Workers’ Compensation system.

Ultimately, it should be the goal of all employers to implement strategies/programs to keep injuries from occurring. Considering that 1 in 4 injuries is driven by over-exertion and repetitive activities (and typically originating from soft tissue), employers must understand that there are a multitude of options to prevent these injuries from occurring, as well as prevent any minor issue from becoming a costly, chronic condition. Action on the front end will only serve to drive down recordable injuries, costs, and productivity.

To learn more about how Upstream Rehabilitation could assist your organization with injury prevention strategies, contact our Director of Industrial Service, Kim A’hearn, at kahearn@urpt.com.

Sources:

1. Workplace Safety Indices by Industry: Insights and Methodology. Liberty Mutual. 2019
2. https://getforesight.com/2020-workers-compensation-statistics/
3. Littleton M. Cost effectiveness of a pre-work screening program for the University of Chicago physical plant. Work. 2003; 21 (3): 243-250.
4. Anderson C, Briggs J. A study on the effectiveness of ergonomically-based functional screening tests and their relationship to reducing workers’ compensation injuries. Work. 2008;31 (1):27-37.
5. Multifidus Muscle Recovery Is Not Automatic After Resolution of Acute, First-Episode Low Back Pain. Hides et al, Spine. 21(23):2763-2769, December 1, 1996
6. Long-term effects of specific stabilizing exercises for first-episode low back pain. Hides JA, Jull GA, Richardson CA. Spine 2001 Jun 1;26(11):E243-8.
7. Collie, A., Sheehan, L., Lane, T.J. et al. Injured worker experiences of insurance claim processes and return to work: a national, cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 19, 927 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7251-x
8. Resources, EHS Insight. “Most Common Workplace Injuries: OSHA 2020 List.” EHS Software, https://www.ehsinsight.com/blog/most-common-workplace-injuries-osha-2020-list.