Slips, trips, and falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths. In addition, more than 211,000 workers in 2020 suffered injuries that required them to miss work, and fall accidents caused 805 deaths.
In Mississippi and across the nation, far too many workers are injured in workplace slip and falls. Injured workers may be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits, but navigating the process alone and getting the benefits you deserve can be challenging.
If you were hurt in a slip and fall at work in Mississippi, you should seek immediate medical attention and notify your employer about the accident right away. Then, you should contact a worker’s compensation attorney to review your legal rights and options.
In the meantime, here are ways to prevent workplace slip and falls, courtesy of Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Magazine.
Employers need to take the lead.
Preventing slips, trips, and falls all starts with your employer. It is up to them to take an initiative and implement safety protocols. OH&S suggests employers:
- Keep floor areas in work zones clean and dry.
- Select and provide workers with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Provide workers with proper training about slip and fall safety hazards in a language they understand.
Safety meetings
To keep workers safe, site safety meetings should be held by employers and managers. These meetings allow workers to be educated on all safety hazards they may encounter, including those that may cause slip and falls. Managers should prepare employees on what to do in case a slip or fall does occur. Remember, falls are serious, so employers and employees must be on the same page.
Ladder safety tips
Knowledge of specific tools and equipment is also essential to protect workers. For example, ladders and stepladders are commonly used on construction sites and in other workplaces, but employees must fully understand how to use them safely. Employers, managers, and supervisors should go over how to properly use the ladders. To avoid a ladder accident:
- Place the ladder on a solid, leveled surface before use. Never lean a ladder against an unstable surface.
- Always keep either two hands and one foot on the ladder or two feet and one hand.
- While on a ladder, have someone at the bottom support it and never reach for something.
- Wear slip-resistant shoes and other PPE.
- If you use a straight or extension ladder, make sure to fasten it to upper support so that it is one foot away from the surface it rests on.
Workers’ comp benefits are available for slip and fall victims.
Workplace slip and fall injuries can be painful and debilitating. Whether you suffered a concussion, broken bone, spinal cord injury, or some other type of injury, you may need to miss work, and you may require extensive medical treatment.
At the Tabor Law Firm, P.A., we can help you file for workers’ compensation benefits, represent your interests throughout the entire process, and fight for the result your case deserves. We’ve been helping injured workers in Mississippi for over 30 years, and we look forward to seeing how we can help you.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Our office is located in Ridgeland, MS, and we serve clients throughout the state.