Warehouse work can pay well, giving you the resources needed to provide for your family. While this work should be safe, the unfortunate reality is that it can be incredibly dangerous. In fact, one study found that in 2021 the injury rate for warehouse workers was nearly double that of those who work in other industries. The risks associated with this kind of work has been highlighted in recent years by stories about Amazon workers who have been hurt on the job, which they often attribute to being forced to move too quickly to meet work quotas.
But regardless of the type of warehouse work you do, it’s unquestionable that you’re at a significant risk of being injured on the job. But what specific risks are you facing? Let’s look at some of the most common warehouse injuries so that you know what to be aware of as you perform your job duties.
There are a lot of injuries that can be suffered when engaging in warehouse work. Here are some of the most common:
- Forklift accidents: Forklifts are commonly used in warehouses to access goods and fulfill orders. But couple the size and speed of these lifts with the quick pace at which the work at hand is expected to be conducted and you have a recipe for danger. Far too often, warehouse workers are pinned and crushed by forklifts, which can lead to devastating injuries that negatively impact your ability to work for a long-time to come.
- Trip or slip and fall accidents: Although warehouse floors are supposed to be clear, they’re oftentimes crowded and hazardous. As a result, it’s easy to trip over items that are in your path or to slip on spilled liquids. And when you fall, the hard floor beneath you can cause all sorts of damage to your body. This can include broken bones, torn ligaments, slipped discs and head and neck injuries. These injuries are painful, but they can also be long-lasting.
- Overexertion: Warehouse workers are often tasked with lifting heavy objects in a repeated fashion. If you’re not careful, you can do a number on your back and your joints. Proper lifting techniques can help reduce the risk of injury here, but even then, you can still end up suffering a serious workplace injury.
- Repetitive stress: Conducting the same physical movements repeatedly can result in carpal tunnel syndrome, wear and tear on your joints and damage to your muscles and tendons. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to avoid these injuries if repetitive motion is part of your job.
- Exposure to hazardous materials: Warehouse workers often perform their job duties near hazardous materials. When exposed to these harmful substances, workers can develop diseases like cancer, and even short-term exposure can result in chemical burns and irritation of the skin and lungs that require medical care and for them to miss work.
- Struck by falling objects: Goods in a warehouse often have to be stored up high. This naturally creates a risk that those objects will fall. If you’re caught unaware below these falling objects, then you can be crushed, suffering everything from broken bones to brain damage.
Have you been injured in a warehouse accident?
If you have, then now is the time to start building your workers’ compensation claim. After all, you need money to help you pay your medical bills and offset your lost wages. But your claim isn’t going to be automatically granted. Instead, your employer’s insurer will look for ways to deny your claim. Don’t be deterred by their actions, though. Just stay resolute, and diligently gather the evidence needed to convincingly present your case.