Common causes of brain injuries at work

On Behalf of Hullverson Law Firm   |   Jan 22, 2018   |   Blog

Workplace accidents may result in traumatic brain injuries. TBIs have significant physical, financial and psychological impacts on injured workers in St. Louis. The long-term expenses of medical attention, rehabilitation and lost wages greatly affect employees. Brain injuries may also have long-lasting effects on the quality of life of patients. 

Some people may recover and return to work after sustaining brain damage, but others are not able to. But how exactly do TBIs occur in the workplace?

Slip, trip and fall accidents

The CDC states that the leading cause of brain injuries is falling. Fall accidents caused almost half of brain injury-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations and fatalities in the U.S. Workers may fall due to slippery floors, poor lighting or clutter in walkways.

Struck-by accidents

The second most common cause of TBIs is an object striking a person. Some examples of an object hitting someone at work include the following situations:

  • A stack of heavy boxes falling over
  • An item falling from a high shelf
  • Tools falling on a construction site

When an object hits someone on the head, it can cause a forceful jolt that results in a serious brain injury.

The signs of brain injuries

Employees in almost any industry are at risk of falling or having an object hit them. Therefore, it is crucial for everyone to identify the symptoms of TBIs. Common symptoms include the following:

  • Consistent and/or severe headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating or following directions
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Trouble communicating and processing information
  • Nausea and vomiting

Anyone who experiences any of these signs after a workplace accident should immediately tell his or her employer and get medical attention.

Recovering from a brain injury at work is difficult. Such a serious injury may make it difficult to conduct daily activities, return to work or communicate with other people. Workers who suffer from a brain injury should consider filing for workers’ compensation.