In light of it being Women’s History Month, we wanted to dive into female specific workplace injuries. What workplace injuries are women more at risk of? Why are women more likely to obtain certain workplace injuries than men? Let’s take a look at the facts.

Male vs. Female Dominated Industries

Different industries come with different occupational hazards, which may explain why men and women are statistically more likely to suffer some workplace injuries than others. For example, according to a study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, men are 10% more likely than women to suffer fatal workplace accidents involving contact with objects and equipment. Industries that commonly experience these kinds of workplace accidents are male dominated, such as construction, agriculture, steel industries, and trucking.

Some common female dominated industries include hospitality, education, healthcare, and occupations in office settings. Don’t get the wrong idea though – women working in these industries suffer plenty of workplace accidents and injuries. Below are just a few common examples of workplace injuries often experienced by women.

  • Exposure to dangerous substances such as harsh chemicals and fumes.
  • Neck and spinal cord injuries.
  • RSIs, also known as Repetitive Stress Injuries. Some examples of RSIs include carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and arthritis.
  • Broken bones and soft tissue damage.
  • Concussions and other traumatic head injuries.

Workplace Violence

The most jarring difference between workplace injuries suffered by males and females is the number of workplace assaults. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 41,560 nonfatal assaults in the workplace that required a day or more away from work to recover in 2019 alone. Disturbingly, 63.5% of these assault victims were women. Even more disturbing, roughly 20% of all workplace deaths to females were caused by homicide. In contrast, only 7.5% of workplace deaths to males were caused by homicide. These statistics show that more needs to be done to address workplace violence issues in the United States.

What to Do After a Workplace Accident

Regardless of gender, workers’ compensation is vital to help financially protect injured employees. What are you supposed to do after a workplace accident? Follow these steps!

  • Report the accident and your injury to your supervisor as soon as possible after the accident.
  • Make sure your workplace injury report is filled out, and request a copy of the report for your records.
  • If you need medical treatment for your workplace injury, inform your employer and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
  • Be thorough when describing your injury to your doctor. Report all aches and pains, not just the main injury. If it becomes a serious problem later on, this will make it easier to prove that it is related to your workplace accident.
  • Keep all appointments and follow all medical treatments. Missing appointments with the company doctor or ignoring medical advice can result in your benefits being terminated.
  • Make sure you are receiving all of your benefits. If the doctor determines that you aren’t able to work, you should be entitled to temporary total disability benefits.
  • Know when to contact an attorney! If you’ve been hurt on the job, you’ll need an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to protect your rights and ensure that you are getting the compensation you deserve.

How Can an Attorney Help?

Having a workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner significantly increases your chances of winning the settlement you need to cover your injury costs. Your workers’ compensation attorney can help with your case in many ways such as:

  • Gathering admissible evidence to prove your workers’ compensation
  • Calculating the value of your workplace injury so that you don’t get “low-balled”.
  • Filling out and submitting the appropriate legal forms correctly and by legal deadlines.
  • Guiding you through the workers’ compensation process.
  • Negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf that covers all of your workplace injury related expenses.

If you have suffered a personal injury on the job, don’t suffer in silence. Call The Hines & Wilson Law Firm for experienced and compassionate legal services from a Columbia, Missouri lawyer near you. Contact us today to schedule your no cost initial consultation for free legal advice!