Report a work injury immediately to your employer and document everything yourself about the injury.
One of the issues that have been in the news lately is the dangers faced by Amazon fulfillment center workers. What a St. Louis work injury lawyer will tell you, though, is that warehouse employees have been dealing with these risks for many years. If you are a warehouse worker, you may want to review some of the top dangers of your job so you can be safer going forward.
- Strain From Lifting – The function of a warehouse is not just to store goods, but to take them out of storage when needed. Though workers use machinery to transport the heaviest items, they also do a lot of lifting themselves. Doing so results in 2 dangers. First, every lift can end in straining the back, neck, shoulder, or any other body part. Second, continuous physical activity leads to fatigue, which puts you in danger of every type of accident.
- Equipment and Machinery – One method workers use to lessen strain from lifting is the use of equipment. Unfortunately, doing so comes with its fair share of risk too. Machines like forklifts are powerful enough to lift heavy objects, but they are also capable of causing damage to workers. Additionally, many warehouses have other pieces of machinery that sort cargo and carry out other functions. These tools often have moving parts and can catch a person’s extremities in them.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls – Warehouse workers do a lot of moving around. Often, they’ll walk many miles in a work day from just carrying out daily tasks. The result is a significant risk of slips, trips, and falls. Making things even worse, warehouses tend to have many objects on the ground. Workers must stay alert and keep their eyes in front of them if they want to avoid taking a fall.
- Falling Objects – Warehouses are characterized by various goods being stacked high above the ground. While this storage method almost always works out, accidents do happen. They usually come in the form of improperly stacked objects falling from above. The vast majority of the time they do not strike anybody, but a worker is occasionally hit. When that impact is on your head, the results can be serious.
- Hazardous Materials – Some warehouse employees don’t have to worry about hazardous chemicals because their workplace doesn’t store them. Others work in facilities that specialize in harmful compounds. Additionally, any worker can be at risk of typical facility issues like gas leaks and asbestos. The best way to avoid these dangers is by following all safety protocols and staying alert throughout the day.
What if You are Injured at Work?
If you have been injured at work you are eligible to receive workers compensation in Missouri. You are entitled to receive prompt medical treatment and wage loss benefits if you are unable to work due to your injury.
It is important that you report a work injury immediately to your employer and document everything yourself about the injury – what, where, when and how it happened. Your employer or supervisor should arrange medical treatment and file the necessary reports with the Division of Workers Compensation.
Contact a St. Louis Work Injury Lawyer
Our legal team has a strong history of helping injured workers get the medical attention and financial compensation that they need. Contact our St. Louis work injury lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected. Please call (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online contact form.
Accidents in warehouses can occur anytime. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 145,000 people work in 7,000 warehouses across the nation. Each year, around 