Workers with Disabilities Often Injured while Working

An on-the-job injury can take many different forms. Some of these injuries may result in time away from work, with workers’ compensation benefits being provided to the injured worker. Other injuries may be more serious, resulting in life-long disabilities. Occasionally, these employees are unable to return to their past positions, and might take on other roles at their place of employment.

When a worker with disabilities is on the workforce, there are specific protections that need to be in place so that he or she is able to perform job-related tasks without the risk of injury. However, a new study focused on workers with disabilities discovered that they were much more likely to be injured at work than their non-disabled counterparts.

The study, by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, examined workplace injuries from 2006 to 2010. It found that the injury rate for disabled workers was 6.0 occupational injuries per 100 workers, compared with 2.3 per 100 non-disabled workers. For both disabled and non-disabled workers, falls remain one of the major factors in on-the-job injuries.

Officials believe that many of the injuries that disabled workers suffer result from employers neglecting to take the necessary precautions when a disabled worker joins the workforce. If accommodations are not put in place to assist the worker, serious accidents may result.

If injured on-the-job, worker should report the incident as soon as possible. Waiting too long to report these injuries may result in certain benefits being unavailable. There are specific procedures that must be followed when treating workplace injuries, and failing to follow any of these steps could have serious consequences for injured workers.

Source: Insurance Journal “Disabled Workers More Likely to Experience Occupational Injury: Study” August 7, 2012.