Whether you are an office worker, a large truck driver or you work in construction, it is vital to understand the risks you face. In the private sector, many workers sustain serious injuries every year, and these injuries can turn lives upside down in different ways. After a work-related accident, you could lose the ability to continue your job, experiencing financial hardships, especially if you have to pay costly medical expenses as well.
Job-related injuries also carry a heavy toll in terms of mental health and physical well-being. Reviewing data on these accidents helps shed light on the prevalence of work-related injuries and it is essential for workers as well as employers to focus on prevention.
The prevalence of private sector work-related injuries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers in the private sector reported 2.8 million nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses during 2019. The same number of injuries were also reported in 2018. For every 100 full-time equivalent workers in 2019, 2018 and 2017, 2.8 nonfatal injury and illness cases arose.
Over the course of 2019, more than 888,000 injuries and illnesses caused workers in the private sector to miss work.
Recovering from a work-related injury
Work-related injuries affect those employed in various fields, from nursing assistants and large truck drivers to laborers, cleaners and retail salespersons. Aside from focusing on your health and rehabilitating from the accident, you also need to look at your financial well-being. Some workers in this position have the ability to secure benefits, such as help with lost wages and medical costs, by applying for workers’ compensation.