Common Causes Of Workplace Amputation Injuries

Among the most traumatic workplace injuries workers suffer are amputation injuries. According to OSHA, more than twenty workers a day suffer injuries that result in amputation. Indeed, workers in all industries are at risk of suffering amputation injuries.

However, workers in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing, are at a greater risk of suffering these injuries. Below, we discuss some of the common causes of workplace amputation injuries.

Workplace Accidents That Can Lead to the Loss of Limbs

Several types of workplace accidents can lead to amputation injuries. The following are some of the accidents that can lead to the loss of limbs;

Machinery Accidents

People who work with machines such as forklifts, conveyors, compactors, and grinders are at a high risk of suffering amputation injuries. Even if a forklift, compactor, or grinder is in perfect condition, it can pose a serious risk. For example, a worker who does not have the proper safety gear can be exposed to hazards that can result in amputation.

Falling From Heights

Workers in the construction industry are at significant risk of suffering amputation injuries because of falling from heights. If a construction worker slips and falls from a ladder or scaffold, they could end up losing a limb after suffering a fracture or cut.

Falling Objects

Debris and other heavy objects could fall on a worker while in the workplace leading to the worker suffering an amputation injury.

Recovering Workers’ Compensation for Amputation Injuries

After suffering an amputation injury, a worker may incur substantial economic costs. After losing a limb, a worker may be forced to switch jobs or stop working altogether. Additionally, a worker may experience depression and other psychological symptoms and have problems reintegrating into the community after suffering an amputation injury.

Fortunately, workers’ compensation laws protect employees who suffer amputation injuries while on the job. Workers’ compensation laws provide employees who suffer amputation injuries while on the job with disability benefits.

Different types of disability benefits are available under Illinois workers’ compensation law. If a worker suffers an amputation injury and can return to work at a different capacity or income level, they can recover permanent partial disability benefits. In Illinois, permanent partial disability benefits are calculated in one of the following ways;

1. Wage differential – If a worker had to get a new job that pays less, they could be given a wage differential of two-thirds of the difference between the gross weekly range they were making and the gross weekly wage they are currently making.
2. Scheduled injury – An employee can recover a payment based on sixty percent of their weekly average as an alternative to the wage differential.
3. Permanent loss of a person as a whole – This takes into consideration, among other things, an employee’s age, pain, skill, occupation, and limitation of motion.
4. Disfigurement – If a worker’s appearance permanently changes, the disfigurement will be assigned a value.

In Illinois, workers who suffer amputation injuries can also recover permanent total disability benefits. These benefits are for employees who cannot work due to their injury. If an employee cannot work due to an amputation injury, they are entitled to recover lifetime benefits that are equal to two-thirds of their weekly wage.

Contact a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you’ve suffered an amputation injury in Illinois while on the job, contact our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law to schedule a consultation and discuss your case.

Source:

nelp.org/news-releases/osha-severe-injury-data-report/