Top Ten Workplace Injuries at a Utility Company

Transcription

1 Top Ten Workplace Injuries at a Utility Company

2 Top Ten Injuries Crush Injuries

3 CRUSH INJURIES A crush injury occurs when force or pressure is put on a body part. This type of injury most often happens when part of the body is squeezed between two objects. Damage related to crush injuries include: Bleeding Bruising Compartment syndrome (increased pressure in an arm or leg that causes serious muscle, nerve, blood vessel, and tissue damage) Fracture Laceration (open wound)

4 Examples of Reported Crush Injuries A man hole riser fell over while in the back of a truck and smashed an employee s finger. While cutting down a large tree stump, it fell over and struck an employee on their ankle. While reading meters an employee dropped the lid and smashed his finger.

5 Top Ten Injuries Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

6 Cumulative Trauma These are injuries that occur over a period of time. The cumulative trauma injuries that we are seeing at the utilities are: Carpal tunnel syndrome Hearing loss Joint replacements These are often questionable injuries in the utility workplace, as they are not specific to a sudden accident.

7 The Law has provided a Clearer Standard for Causation over the last few years: Injury is compensable if it arose primarily in the course and scope of work when all other possible causes are considered. Work injury must have contributed at least 50.1% to the overall injury. Shown to a reasonable degree of medical certainty (in the opinion of the physician) that it is more likely than not, considering all causes related to the employment. Panel physician s opinion is presumed correct on issue of causation, but rebuttable.

8 Examples of Reported Cumulative Trauma Injuries An employee reported a hearing loss from being exposed to loud noises while working over the years (chain saws, fuse pops and diesel trucks). An employee reported pain in their hands from lifting, pulling, tugging and repetitive movements. An employee reported pain in their knee from climbing in and out of the bucket, climbing poles and walking on uneven ground for years.

9 Top Ten Injuries Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

10 FRACTURES A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average person has two during a lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. There are many types of fractures, including displaced, non-displaced, open, closed, comminuted, transverse and stress.

11 Fractures are common to the hands, arms, legs, ankles and feet. The injuries can be very minor and only require a cast and some are more severe requiring surgery, extended time off and a permanent impairment.

12 Examples of Reported Fractures An employee stepped off curb and fell, they fractured their arm at the wrist. An employee fell backward due to dog jumping on him and broke his wrist. An employee was cutting tree limbs, one snapped back and struck the employee in the face. This caused multiple facial fractures around the eye.

13 Top Ten Injuries Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

14 Top Ten Injuries Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

15 Top Ten Injuries Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

16 ANIMAL BITES, STINGS, DERMATITIS AND FOREIGN BODIES Animal bites and insect stings are from dog bites, spider bites, wasp and bee stings. Dermatitis usually involves contact with poison oak or ivy. Foreign bodies usually pertain to something in the eye from dust and debris to metal particles. This category also can include splinters. THESE ARE USUALLY MINOR INJURIES WITH MINOR COSTS

17 Examples of Reported Foreign Bodies, Dermatitis, and Animal Bites / Insect Stings While cutting steel poles, a metal particle got in an employee s eye. While clearing right of way, an employee got poison oak on arms. While reading a meter an employee was bit on the hand by a dog.

18 Top Ten Injuries Lacerations 5. Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

19 Top Ten Injuries Bruises/Contusions 4. Lacerations 5. Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

20 BRUISES/CONTUSIONS These injuries account for about 18% of claims per year. The costs are usually minimal resulting in 1 to 2 visits to a medical provider with no long term care. CUTS/LACERATIONS These injuries account for about 12% of claims per year. These injuries typically result in stitches or wound care with 1 to 2 visits to a medical provider. Occasionally there are issues with infection or tendon/nerve lacerations that increase the costs of the claim.

21 Examples of Reported Cuts/Lacerations and Bruises/Contusions An employee fell down steps resulting in a contusion to their knee. While unloading utility poles, one bounced off the trailer and hit an employee in the nose causing a laceration. While trimming flash an employee cut their finger.

22 Top Ten Injuries Sprains 3. Bruises/Contusions 4. Lacerations 5. Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

23 Top Ten Injuries 1. Strains 2. Sprains 3. Bruises/Contusions 4. Lacerations 5. Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign Bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative Trauma Injuries 10. Crush Injuries

24 STRAINS & SPRAINS A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon (a fibrous cord of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone). Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain can be as simple as an overstretching of a muscle or tendon, or it can be the result of a partial or complete tear. A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament (a band of fibrous tissue that connects two or more bones at a joint). One or more ligaments may be injured at the same time. The severity of the injury will depend on the extent of the injury (whether the tear is partial or complete) and the number of ligaments involved.

25 Strains commonly occur to the: Lumbar Spine Cervical Spine Shoulder rotator cuff or bicep tendon Sprains commonly occur to the: Knee ACL, MCL, meniscus Ankle Wrist/hand

26 These injuries as a whole account for the majority of lost time claims in a year and the greatest amount of claim dollars per category. Costs commonly associated with treatment of sprains and strains include: Medical Costs Physician Physical Therapy Diagnostic tests (xrays, MRI, CT) Medication Indemnity Temporary Total Disability Permanent Partial Disability Legal

27 Examples of Reported Strains and Sprains An employee was walking back to the truck at a job site and stepped in a hole twisting his knee, which caused him to fall onto his shoulder. This resulted in a sprain to his knee and strain to his shoulder. An employee stepped in a ditch and twisted their ankle, resulting in a sprained ankle. An employee lifted a concrete meter box and strained their lower back.

28 Injury Percentages based on claims from 7/1/13 to 7/1/14 1% 5% 12% 5% 4% 4% 3% 18% 42% Sprains & Strains Bruises & Contusions Cuts & Lacerations Animal Bites & Stings Dermatitis Foreign Bodies Fractures Cumulative Trauma Crush Injuries

29 $700, $600, $500, $400, $300, $200, $100, $0.00 Claim Dollars

30 This information came from the claims that were reported to us from 7/1/13 to 7/1/14 with the DSIF program. 186 claims 33 Indemnity claims 22 Indemnity claims from strains and sprains 4 Indemnity claims from bruises and contusions 4 Indemnity claims from fractures 2 Indemnity claims from cumulative trauma 1 Indemnity claim from a laceration

31 Top Ten Injuries 1. Strains 2. Sprains 3. Bruises/contusions 4. Lacerations 5. Animal Bites/Insect Stings 6. Dermatitis 7. Foreign bodies 8. Fractures 9. Cumulative injuries 10. Crush Injuries

32 NEXT STEVE POWELL AND HOW TO PREVENT THESE INJURIES FROM OCCURRING..