In recent blogs we have discussed how the physical therapy profession and specifically how Results Physiotherapy can assist in creating a safer work environment, assist in injury prevention and help workers that do happen to get injured on the job back to work more quickly at a higher functional level. At Results Physiotherapy we are often asked what the most dangerous professions are that may need to create or add some additional physical therapy programs to assist in the mitigation of potential risk factors. We decided to dive into the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s data to get a better understanding of where the greatest number of injuries are coming from.
The 2018 Bureau Statistics showed that in the US we average right about 3.4 workers’ compensation claims per every 100 employees. And sadly, despite substantial improvements in safety measures, there continue to be a large number of on the job fatalities each year with 3.5 fatalities per every 100,000 workers, or 5,250 total fatalities in 2018. The good news is we are making progress, in 1970 there were an average of 38 work-related fatalities reported in the United States per day, decreasing to just 17 per day in 2018. We’ve come a long way since OSHA was enacted in 1970, but of course, 1 fatality is too many, so there is still much work to be done.
What are the most dangerous jobs with regards to fatalities you may ask? The answer is construction, with 21.1% of the recordable deaths in 2018 according to OSHA. Construction is followed by agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting in regards to fatality risk. The mechanism of injury in workplace fatalities is also measured by the Bureau and not surprisingly, motor vehicle accidents are the most deadly claiming 40% of the fatalities, followed by falls, assaults, being struck by objects/equipment, exposure to harmful substances, and fires/explosions.
Fatalities are a terrible reality in the workplace that unfortunately will likely never completely go away. Fortunately, we are making progress every year in incidence rates and it is becoming more and more unlikely. One way those in the Workers’ Compensation field can help is to contribute to groups like Kids’ Chance of America. Kid’s Chance has chapters in 48 states and provides scholarships to children of workers who are either killed or catastrophically injured in the line of work.
When looking at all occupational injuries, again not surprisingly laborers lead the way in incidence, followed by truck drivers, cleaning workers, maintenance workers, nursing assistants, and retail workers. This is not surprising to healthcare professionals that work with workers’ compensation patients and provides a good clue to what types of industries may benefit from different types of injury prevention programs.
The most common cause of workplace injuries are over-exertion injuries with the most common types of injuries being musculoskeletal sprains and strains. This is further evidence that physical therapy interventions like post-offer employment tests (POETs), which test potential employees against the essential job functions of the position, can be extremely important in reducing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.
Early intervention triage can also be extremely helpful in keeping minor aches and pains from overexertion at work from turning in to more serious musculoskeletal pathology. And in the case where a musculoskeletal injury has already occurred, a well-designed work conditioning program can ensure the injured worker has the best chance of returning to work while reducing the risk of re-injury. Upon return to work, a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) can assist in determining whether a patient is capable of safely returning to their previous level of employment.
As there have been significant strides in the United States to lower the total number of occupational injury incidences, there will always be risk factors that need to be continually mitigated, and musculoskeletal concerns that need to be addressed. Utilizing a physical therapy partner can be an effective measure to help address these ongoing needs. Consulting a physical therapist at Results Physiotherapy can assist in choosing the right intervention to keep your workforce safe and healthy.
To learn more about preventative and return to work programs contact Results Physiotherapy at https://resultspt.com/request-info
