What Are the Greatest Risks to Warehouse Workers in Nashville?
Warehouse work comes with inherent dangers that require thorough training and vigilance to mitigate. Despite precautions, accidents can still occur, posing serious risks to employees. Unfortunately, no matter how careful and cautious you are, work-related accidents can still happen in these types of fast-paced and laborious environments. The following are seven of the greatest risks to warehouse workers that you should be aware of:
1. Falling objects
If items and objects are incorrectly stacked or loaded onto a shelf, they can tumble over and fall on a warehouse worker. In addition, when workers are working from great heights or moving objects, they could accidentally bump, push, or drop the object onto other workers. Most of the time, the objects, boxes, products, or containers are heavy and hard, causing traumatic brain injuries, crushing injuries, internal organ damage, and internal bleeding. If the falling object is sharp, it can result in punctures, amputations, and more.
2. Trips, slips, and falls
It is not uncommon for packages, containers, machines, or work-related vehicles to leak out or spill liquid onto the floor of a warehouse. When this happens, the floors become wet and slick, causing slips and falls to occur. In addition, when there are cords, objects, or pallets blocking aisles or walkways, employees may trip or fall, resulting in spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, sprains and strains, and more.
3. Machine accidents
Most warehouse facilities consist of large and powerful machines. The goal of these machines is to ensure that workers can do their job in an easy and quick manner. For example, a machine may bend, fold, or cut strong metals that would normally be impossible or take hours to do manually. Malfunctioning machines or improper use can lead to severe accidents, emphasizing the importance of remaining alert and reporting any issues promptly.
4. Forklift and work vehicle accidents
Warehouse workers typically use forklifts, pallet jacks, cranes, and other work vehicles to pick up, lift, and move heavy equipment and products. However, if a worker is using these vehicles with no training or acting recklessly, other employees may be at risk of being in a dangerous or fatal accident. When riding on one of these vehicles, you must be fully aware of your surroundings to ensure that you do not hit anyone, back over anyone, or drop anything on anyone.
5. Harmful chemicals and substances
When workers are exposed to harmful chemicals and substances, they may develop severe and life-threatening illnesses, cancer, or become poisoned. Depending on what type of chemicals and substances a warehouse worker handles, they may also experience chemical burns, which are extremely painful. When working with any type of chemicals, it is important to protect your eyes, lungs, and hands by wearing personal protective gear at all times.
6. Repetitive tasks
Warehouse workers are often required to do the same tasks over and over again. As a result, their muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons may become worn out and overstretched, causing pain and repetitive motion injuries. If they do not take the time to heal and the injury becomes worse, it could lead to chronic pain, disabilities, and loss of mobility.
7. Fires and explosions
When a warehouse worker tries to operate a defective or malfunctioning machine, works with flammable materials, or the warehouse facility has wiring issues, a fire or explosion may occur. Employees should be trained on how to use a fire extinguisher, how to take cover, and what to do in the event of a fire or explosion. Without this type of training, severe burn injuries and deaths are likely.
What should I do if I’m injured while working in a warehouse in Nashville?
If you have recently suffered injuries in a Nashville warehouse, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. After that, make sure you officially notify your supervisor of your injury; this is an important step if you wish to claim workers’ compensation benefits. Our Nashville injury lawyers can help you file for those benefits, and can represent you if your initial claim is denied, or if your company wants you to come back to work before you’re ready.
If you’re not eligible for workers’ compensation, though, we can still help. You may be able to file a third-party personal injury claim instead. Time isn’t on your side, though, so we encourage you to call us as soon as possible after your injury.
Get in touch with the workers’ compensation lawyers from Rocky McElhaney Law Firm at your earliest opportunity. Our team is dedicated to fighting for the benefits you are entitled to even if your employer does not agree or refuses to cooperate. We will review your case, assist you with collecting strong and supportive evidence, and develop a strategy to help you potentially secure the compensation you deserve. Fill out our contact form or call our office to begin discussing today. We offer free consultations in Nashville, East Nashville, Hendersonville, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro for your convenience.