Jobs With the Most Workplace Accidents In Peoria, Illinois

Top 10 Dangerous Jobs

While the Illinois death rate (825.3 deaths per 100,000 residents) is higher than that of the death rate of work-related accidents, workplace accidents are still a concern. Some occupations have a higher likelihood of work-related accidents than others. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 dangerous jobs:

Transportation and Warehousing

The transportation and warehousing industry usually deal with moving and storing materials that can be dangerous or heavy. A worker can do everything right, but still be susceptible to workplace hazards in these industries. Common causes of warehousing injuries include slips and falls, overexertion, and machinery accidents.

Warehouse materials and equipment can put workers at risk of a fall, slip, or trip. Drivers or operators of motor vehicles can get exhausted after long hours of work without rest and suffer injuries or illnesses related to overexertion. It's also possible for machinery accidents to occur, putting the operators at risk of injury.

Construction

Construction is one of the riskiest occupations, since it involves dealing with dangerous equipment and hazardous conditions. Workers in the construction industry may fall off scaffolding, ladders, or roofs. They may also be electrocuted by lightning or faulty electrical connections when working in higher buildings.

Other hazards in construction sites include asbestos, silica dust, wood dust, and gypsum dust. These hazards put workers at risk of respiratory problems.

Construction workers have a high risk of suffering hand-arm vibration syndrome. The syndrome stems from working with vibrating equipment for a long time. Workers can also suffer musculoskeletal disorders or hearing loss from their jobs.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting

While activities like forestry, farming, fishing, and hunting help support biodiversity, they put people at risk of injuries and illnesses. Ranchers and farmers get exposed to hazards that can affect their working abilities. The tools they use, and their work environment, put them at risk of injury or illness.

Manufacturing

Workers in the manufacturing industry are at risk of amputation, electrocution, chemical burns, or falls while operating heavy machinery. They may suffer life-threatening diseases like cancer after exposure to chemical hazards for a long time. Biological hazards, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold, and ergonomic hazards, like exposure to loud noise, lifting heavy objects, and repetitive motions, also have life-threatening consequences.

Wholesale Trade

It's common for wholesale traders to move around a lot in their day-to-day operations. Their work may involve moving or transporting materials. Dangers in their work environments may include slips and trips, falls, and overuse injuries.

Retail Trade

Though retail traders may not be exposed to obvious work-related hazards like falls from heights and electrocution, they are still susceptible to other dangers. These workers often work in storerooms and move around exits and aisles. Any obstructions in these walkable spaces can put them at risk of injury.

Administrative/Support/Waste Management/Remediation Services

The administrative/support, remediation, and waste management services industry feature individuals who carry out routine support activities. They do this work on behalf of other organizations. Their duties may involve cleaning, waste disposal, surveillance and security, solicitation, and document preparation.

Regardless of the job description, these workers are at risk of fatal occupational injuries or illnesses. The risk may be heightened if there are any hazards at their workplaces.

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Employees in the professional, technical, and scientific services may get injured off the clock or at work due to falls, slips, and trips. The injuries/illnesses may also stem from mental stress, getting hit by moving objects, and body stress. Hazards in this industry include getting struck by livestock or vehicles, manual handling, and sedentary work.

Accommodation and Food Services

The accommodation and food services industry comprises hotels, clubs, cafés/restaurants, takeaway food, and music/entertainment. Common jobs in this industry include customer service, food preparation, cooking/food handling, and cleaning/room service. These jobs put people at risk of injury or illnesses due to mental stress, electric shock, slips, trips, and falls.

Law Enforcement

While the primary responsibility of law enforcement officers is to protect lives and property, their work puts them at great risk of injury or illness. They often face several stressful and dangerous situations in the line of duty, such as fatigue and gun violence. The physical, varied, and unpredictable nature of their duties also put them at risk of injury or illness.

Common Workplace Injuries

Workers in Illinois are exposed to several hazards that increase their risk of sustaining workplace injuries. These hazards include confined spaces, fire, violence, chemical substances, asbestos, and falling. A workplace can have safety, environmental/physical, biological, ergonomic, chemical, or psychosocial hazards. The outcome will be the following types of injuries:

• Slip and fall injuries include broken bones, soft tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and sprained wrists or ankles
• Vehicle accident injuries on workers like truck drivers, public transportation drivers, and police officers who operate motor vehicles as part of their job duties
• Repetitive stress injuries for workers who have to repeat the same exertions and motions over and over again daily
• Lacerations are characterized by a deep slice or cut in the skin caused by trauma or sharp objects
•  Occupational exposure illnesses or injuries occur when workers get exposed to different work-related hazards like polluted air, extreme temperatures, and loud noises in the long term
• Contact with an object or equipment, especially for workers who handle heavy machinery or larger equipment

According to the OSHA 300 Log, work-related injuries or illnesses fall under six categories. These categories include injury, skin disorder, poisoning, respiratory condition, hearing loss, and all other illnesses. These categories are important when evaluating the damages or losses sustained by a worker following an occupational accident. They may contribute to determine the benefits you can recover through your employer’s workers’ compensation coverage.

What to Do After a Workplace Injury

The steps you take after a workplace injury in Peoria, Illinois, largely determine your chances of recovering workers' compensation benefits. As such, you should report the injury to your employer immediately after the accident. Do this within 45 days orally or in writing from the day you experienced signs of a work-related injury or sustained an injury from an accident.

After filling out the workplace injury report, seek treatment immediately for the injuries. Ensure that the doctor records a diagnosis of your condition and gives you a report, which can help prove that your injuries were related to your occupation.

The next step is filing a claim with the IWCC (Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission). The deadline is three years after the accident date or 2 years from the last compensation you got. The IWCC helps resolve disputes between employers and eligible employees concerning workplace illnesses and injuries.

Consider retaining an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to help you navigate the workers’ comp process. The legal counsel will advise you on what to expect and your rights during the compensation process. He or she will also help you avoid doing or mentioning things that can harm your chances of recovering compensation.

Recovering Compensation After a Workplace Injury

You are on track to recover compensation after reporting the work-related injury to your employer and filing a valid claim with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Expect the insurance company to conduct a workers’ compensation investigation that will help determine whether to deny or approve your claim. If the insurer rejects the claim, you can appeal the denial.

If the employer's insurer downplays your workplace injury or illness diagnosis, it can ask you to be evaluated by a medical doctor. The independent evaluation is usually referred to as an Independent Medical Examination. It helps the insurer dispute inaccuracies in your diagnosis.

Mediation or a settlement conference may be necessary if both parties want to resolve the claim. During this process, a neutral third party will try to help you and your employer’s insurer reach an agreement informally. If not, you can make your case to a judge during a workers’ compensation hearing with your lawyer's help.

If the judge's ruling favors you, you will receive your workers' comp benefits for injuries suffered while working in one of the jobs with the most workplace accidents. These benefits depend on the type of damages or losses you sustained. They include medical care costs, temporary/permanent disability, vocational rehabilitation, and death benefits.