The National Safety Council (NSC) has recently released its figures regarding injuries in the workplace for 2017. The complete findings can be found at the NSC’s Injury Facts page, but there are some data that jumps out at the reader. Unfortunately, it is not good news for women workers.
Assaults upon women more common at work
The most disheartening information is the fact that women make up 70% of the victims of assaults in the workplace that involve days away from work. That means that 12,280 women were assaulted at work in 2017, as opposed to 5,530 men who sustained non-fatal injuries from an assault at work. The number of assaults upon women has gone up 60% since 2011.
Other safety issues of note
The findings also point out that there are other occasions where women suffer injuries at a higher rate. These include:
- Women are involved in 61% of complications due to repetitive motion like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Women are involved in 59% of non-fatal injuries caused by another individual
- Women are involved in 57% of falls from the same level
Women also suffer non-fatal injuries or illness at a higher rate in certain professions. The top ones include:
- Women are involved in 80% of injuries or illnesses in healthcare
- Women are involved in 61% of injuries or illnesses in education
- Women are involved in 60% of injuries or illnesses in an office
A safe workplace for all
The NSC does not have statistics from Florida, so we cannot compare it to other states. Nevertheless, the findings are conclusive enough for employers to understand that they need to evaluate the safety of the workplace for women. Protocols or guidelines may need to change to ensure that the workplace is as safe as possible for all workers.
Those who are injured should seek medical treatment immediately, and let their employer know as soon as possible. Those with long-term injury or illness may need to file a workers’ compensation claim. Florida’s system is particularly complicated, so it is advised that the injured or their family seek guidance from an attorney who handles workers’ comp claims and appeals. They can handle the details of the dispute or paperwork while the injured concentrates on their recovery.