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The Dangers of ADHD in Hazardous Workplaces

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A worker with ADHD may have a higher risk of being injured, especially if they work in a dangerous environment.

Between you, your family, and your friends, you likely know somebody that has ADHD. As you might imagine, this condition can have a detrimental impact on employee safety.

Issues Associated With ADHD

You’ve likely heard of ADHD, but you may not know what issues it is associated with. The following are some of the most common.

  • Difficulty paying attention to details. Sufferers often do not comprehend specifics at all, or they do, but forget quickly.
  • Poor organizational skills, which leads to a cluttered mind and workspace.
  • They lose their attention easily, either from distractions or daydreaming.
  • Those that experience hyperactive symptoms often have physical issues such as squirming or fidgeting.

Now that you understand these issues, let’s discuss what problems they can lead to in the workplace.

Improper Training

One of the most important parts of starting a new job is training seminars. While people often dislike them, this educational content prevents many injuries. The reason is that it teaches people how to operate machinery and generally be safe at work. What happens when a person has ADHD is that they have trouble paying attention to training. The result can be a dangerous lack of knowledge about safety guidelines.

Distraction During Dangerous Tasks

Many jobs involve somewhat dangerous tasks. An example of one is a roofer climbing a ladder. The best way to avoid damages is to pay attention to what you’re doing, but ADHD can inhibit you from doing so. The possible result is an injury. The best way to avoid these injuries is by catching yourself when you start to drift off. Bringing yourself back to attention will increase your safety substantially.

Slips and Falls

Another area in which people with ADHD have trouble with is walking around their workplace. Depending on the nature of it, there may be objects on the ground that are easy to trip over. Those that are paying attention can avoid these traps, but distracted individuals are more likely to trip and fall.

Getting Behind

The last crucial outcome of ADHD is getting behind on your work. While this may not be hazardous, it can create a cascade of dangerous events. The reason is that those that are behind are more likely to rush through tasks. A person that is rushing is prone to skipping safety precautions and sustaining an injury as a result.

One thing that will make you rest a bit easier is that having ADHD generally cannot be used against you in the case of a workplace accident. Instead, you and your St. Louis workers compensation lawyer will be able to fight for your benefits just like any other employee. When you do, you will have an excellent chance at obtaining the compensation that you deserve.

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Updated: November 15, 2018
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