Manufacturing Worker Injuries

When you took a job working in the manufacturing industry, no one told you it was going to be easy. However, what you may not have known is that factory workers have one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are hundreds of thousands of workplace injuries across the manufacturing industry each year, ranging in severity from relatively minor strains to broken bones to amputations. In each of these cases, injured employees missed work, and most incurred medical expenses that were not covered by insurance.

Manufacturing worker injuries are largely preventable. Of course, that fact does little if you’ve been seriously hurt in a workplace accident. What may help, however, is pursuing a workers’ compensation claim with the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC. At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, we have extensive experience connecting clients who have experienced manufacturing worker injuries with the workers’ compensation benefits they need, deserve and are entitled to. We also offer free consultations to all prospective clients and are ready to meet with you as soon as possible.

As of 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are over 12 million manufacturing workers in the United States. The manufacturing industry includes dozens of different occupations, such as boilermakers, machinists, fabricators, electricians, inspectors, cutters, controllers, assemblers, welders, warehouse workers and more.

Most manufacturing workers spend their days in a factory, which can be an incredibly dangerous environment. And, while the rate of manufacturing worker injuries has decreased slightly over the past few years, according to the most recent data, nearly 400,000 manufacturing workers suffer serious injuries at work each year. Thus, on average, over three percent of all manufacturing workers will experience a workplace injury over the course of any given year.

Given the size of the manufacturing industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps detailed records of all reported injuries. According to the most recent report from 2020, the most common causes of manufacturing worker injuries include the following:

Sprains, Strains, and Tears: Approximately 29,600 manufacturing employees experienced a sprain, strain or tear in 2020. These injuries can be minor but can also limit a worker’s ability to perform the necessary functions of their job. Further, working through the pain can cause an injury to become worse.

Fractures: In 2020, there were 12,030 manufacturing workers who experienced a broken bone or fracture. Often, these injuries occur when a worker gets their hand or other body part caught in a machine.

Cuts and Lacerations: Severe cuts and lacerations resulted in an estimated 11,660 manufacturing workers missing at least one day of work.

The most commonly reported causes of manufacturing injuries include the following:

• Being exposed to harmful substances or environments,
• Getting Struck by an object or equipment,
• Fall from the same level,
• Getting caught in or compressed by an object or equipment and
• Overexertion due to lifting or lowering.

Manufacturing workers who were hurt on the job can file a workers’ compensation claim to obtain much-needed benefits that will cover their medical expenses and provide them with ongoing monthly income-replacement benefits until they can return to work. One unique aspect of a workers’ compensation claim is that you do not need to prove fault, meaning it is irrelevant who caused the accident leading to your injuries. However, employers and their insurance companies routinely deny workers’ compensation claims on the basis that the injury was not work-related or was pre-existing or that the medical treatment sought was unjustified. An experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your rights and effectively prepare an application for benefits to minimize the chance of delay or denial.

If you or someone in your family recently suffered serious injuries in a workplace accident, the dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers at the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, can help. We have decades of combined experience helping clients navigate the complex NC workers’ compensation process and have connected countless clients to the benefits they need and deserve. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with one of our Charlotte work injury lawyers, give us a call at 704-405-2580. You can also reach our Cabarrus County workers’ compensation attorneys at 704-918-4747. We proudly represent clients in Charlotte, Concord and Kannapolis, as well as throughout Mecklenburg, Gaston, Iredell, Rowan, and Union Counties.