Every type of job has its hazards, including working in a warehouse. However, some jobs are more inherently riskier than others. From logging and timber to construction and commercial transportation, the dangers in some jobs are glaring. Even in the safest work environments, accidents still happen that can cause life-threatening injuries.

That’s why Florida’s labor laws exist to ensure that employers provide safe work environments for their workers. Furthermore, the law also mandates many employers to compensate their staff should they suffer any work-related injury. As such, injured workers can, with the help of a qualified attorney, get financial compensation for such injuries.

While compensation is good, employees must have foreknowledge on how inherently risky their jobs are. Next, they should have enough information on what to do after an injury to avoid complicating their work comp claims. In this article, we’d discuss the hazards Florida warehouse workers are exposed to. We’d also touch on the steps to take to ensure you get full compensation for your injuries.

What Are the Common Injury Hazards in Florida Warehouses?

A warehouse is a building that stores raw materials or manufactured goods before they get distributed for sale or consumption. The warehouse system comprises lots of storage equipment and machines coupled with lots of people moving stuff simultaneously. That’s the perfect breeding ground for lots of accidents and injuries.

According to OSHA, the warehousing fatalities rates are much higher than the average rates for other industries. The administration also pointed out the most common potential hazards in warehouses to include:

• Unsafe Use of Forklifts 

Forklifts are industrial trucks that lift and move materials over short distances. According to OSHA, forklifts account for a large percentage of deaths and injuries in all industries. These accidents are usually caused by forklift overturning. Other times, the forklift can run off the dock, fall on a worker and cause devastating injuries.

• Improper Products Stacking 

Storing materials in a warehouse requires a lot of stacking up. When these materials are not piled properly, they can fall with a little push and injure workers. Hence, employees should ensure that they adhere to safety storage procedures like stacking loads evenly. They can also avoid this hazard by removing objects from their shelves one at a time.

• No Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Since warehousing is a dangerous job, employers in the warehouse industry should provide personal protective equipment for their workers. This equipment includes rubber gloves, hardhats, harnesses, etc. Unfortunately, many employees don’t have adequate safety gear to protect themselves from potential warehouse hazards. This, in turn, predisposes them to risks of work-related injuries.

• Repetitive Motion Injuries 

Many warehouse employees must engage in repetitive motions to get their jobs done. Unfortunately, repetitive motion can easily cause undue strain on the body and cause severe injuries to the workers. The most common repetitive motion injuries include back and neck pain due to overexertion and improper lifting postures.

• Inadequate Fire Safety Provisions 

In warehouses with lots of flammable materials in-store, it’s quite easy to spread a fire. As such, these facilities need to be equipped with state-of-the-art fire safety equipment while following standard safety procedures. For example, smoking and open flames can be prohibited, especially in charging stations. Warehouses can also provide emergency exit locations in case of an explosion.

• Hazardous Materials  

There are many hazardous materials that warehouses store. These could be flammable materials or products containing radioactive substances. Without proper care, these materials could cause severe injuries to employees in a short time. To avoid that, warehouse workers must handle these materials with caution.

• Slips and Falls 

A report disclosed that “Slips and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims.” They are also “the leading cause of occupational injury for people aged 55 years and older.” Unfortunately, slips and falls are a common preventable hazard in warehouses. Employees can easily trip over boxes and other objects and suffer severe injuries.

Steps To Take After a Miami Work-Related Injury

Sustaining work-related injuries can be an extremely difficult situation to deal with. You can, however, get some relief for your pain by doing the following immediately after the accident:

• Seek medical attention
• Notify your employer about your injury
• Hire a Work Comp Lawyer

Contact an Experienced Workers’ Comp Lawyer Now!

At Miami Lawyers 360, our experienced work comp attorneys offer top-notch legal representation for injured Miami workers. With us, you can be sure that your work comp claim will receive the attention it deserves. We will ensure that you get ample compensation for your workplace injuries in no time. Schedule a free consultation with us today.