Are you at great risk for workplace injuries?

Throughout North Carolina, thousands of people — yourself, perhaps, included — travel to and from work at least three to five days per week. You probably have a routine in place for getting ready for work. In fact, if you have been at the same job for a long time, your work commute routine might be so second nature to you by now that you barely even think about it each day. You simply get ready, grab your keys and go.

While you might think about what you will eat for lunch on a particular day or tasks you will carry out for a certain project, it is unlikely that you spend time each morning thinking about your risk for workplace injuries. Even if your job is inherently dangerous, you might not think about specific risks each and every time you head out the door for work. There are some jobs, however, that definitely place workers at greater risk for injury than others.

Are you a North Carolina tractor-trailer driver or farmer?

If you drive a big rig at work or are employed in the agriculture industry, you might have one of the most dangerous jobs, not only in this state but throughout the country, as well. In 2020 alone, there were more than 760 workplace fatalities in the tractor-trailer industry. In fact, if you are a big-rig operator, your job ranks high on most lists for injury risks in the workplace.

Farming is also a high-risk job. If you are an agricultural worker, you might come in contact with heavy machinery, toxic chemicals and many other issues that place you at risk for injuries on the job.

Additional jobs that are high risk for North Carolina workers

There are numerous other jobs that increase your risk for workplace injuries. If you work as a groundskeeper or landscaper, for instance, you’ll want to know that there were more than 115 workplace fatalities in these industries in recent years. When you work in a field that exposes you to risks for injury on a daily basis, it is only natural to rely on your employer to help you and your coworkers to stay safe.

Through proper training, provision of well-maintained equipment, regular inspections and adherence to state and federal safety guidelines, your risk for injuries in a workplace accident may greatly reduce. Sadly, however, many North Carolina workers have suffered injuries on the job when employers failed in their duties to maintain a safe working environment. If you are one of them, you may wish to seek support as you prepare to navigate the workers’ compensation system, which can be stressful for those who attempt to handle a claim on their own.