The holidays in New Jersey are a time of celebration and cheer, but they can also be a time when the courts start to see more work-related injury cases. Here are the top three types of work injuries that occur around the holidays.
Burns
Kitchens and other areas where there is a lot of activity and heat can lead to personal injuries, like burns. During the busy holiday season, for instance, kitchens are bustling with activity, including ovens and stovetops that are in continual use throughout the day. It’s not uncommon to see workers filing personal injury cases for burns they received in the organized chaos of a restaurant kitchen.
Back injuries
Construction sites can also be a hotbed for workplace injury cases during the Christmas holidays, given that many contractors are scrambling to complete projects before the year is over. As a result, injuries increase due to the constant heavy lifting and a lot of repetitive bending.
Fractures
Construction workers also risk fractures from falls and falling debris, which is a problem during the winter months when snow packs can fall off roofs or other structures on work sites. It’s also common to see workers getting caught in between pieces of machinery, such as when a piece of heavy equipment is being moved and the worker gets stuck and experiences fractures as a result.
Prevention measures
As a worker, you can take precautions in the workplace to prevent personal injury cases. One way is to wear personal protective equipment that fits you well and provides adequate protection for your body. It’s also important during the winter months that workers, especially those who work outside, stay aware of their surroundings to avoid getting caught in between machinery or injured by falling debris.
Last but not least, it’s a great idea to avoid overworking yourself as that can lead to serious problems. If you find yourself working extra long hours, take a break or call it quits for the day.
It might be possible to prevent workplace personal injury cases around the holidays. If you do get injured on the job, it’s important to know the steps to take to file your workers’ compensation or personal injury case.
