Workplace Dangers in Wisconsin

Wisconsin worker fatalities rose slightly from 2014 to 2015, according to research by The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. To be sure, 99 workers were killed in 2014, while 104 were killed in 2015. The report outlines the importance of abiding the regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and that many employers disregard OSHA standards because they do not believe that they will be inspected by the administration. It would take 142 years for OSHA to inspect every place of employment in Wisconsin, a feat that of course cannot be accomplished. Along with increasing OSHA funding and support, AFL-CIO calls for informing different industries that “OSHA is going to come out and inspect them more or less randomly.” No workplace will ever be entirely safe, and if you were injured or lost a loved one to a workplace accident, you deserve compensation from the employer.

Two of the Most Common Risks in the Workplace: Falls and Motor Vehicles

Whether you are employed as a construction worker or a bank teller, there are risks associated with every imaginable job. It is your employer’s responsibility to mitigate these risks as best as they reasonably can. And, when an employee becomes injured on the job, it is also the employer’s responsibility to provide workers’ compensation benefits. Two of the most common, and serious, workplace hazards include the following:

• Slips, Trips, and Falls – From 2005 to 2014, 6,287 Wisconsin employees sustained workers’ compensation claims caused by slips, trips, and falls, according to the Bureau of State Risk Management. Slip and falls are a leading cause of fractured bones, torn ACL tendons, spinal column trauma, and traumatic brain injuries.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents – Whether you were injured as a pedestrian crossing the parking lot owned by your employer on your way to the office, or you were injured in a traffic crash on a work trip or as a truck driver, workers’ compensation should cover your injuries and potential wage replacement.

Contact a Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

Here at the Wisconsin law offices of Novitzke, Gust, Sempf, Whitley & Bergmanis, we understand the serious nature of workplace injuries, and never stop aggressively advocating on behalf of our clients. You need an attorney who can stand up to large insurance companies and employers. Call us today for help.