FACTS
- Most employees who receive head injuries were not wearing head protection nor was it required by their employers. Typical injuries to the head are caused by falling objects such as tools, bolts, etc., falling from a height of several yards.
- With head injuries, employers often failed to require workers to wear hard hats or to enforce wearing them correctly.
- Concussions in the workplace are most commonly caused by falls, getting struck in the head by falling objects, or motor vehicle accidents.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are the primary type of head injuries. TBI is a significant cause of death and disability in the United States. Despite the security given to workers from the safety helmet standard, there are still incidents of traumatic brain injury, especially in construction.
- Slips, trips, and falls cause the most head injuries at construction sites.
STATS
- Injuries to the head are common in the workplace, accounting for approximately 10% of all occupational injuries. More than 120,000 disabling injuries to the head occur each year.
- Unfortunately, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that only 16% of workers who sustained head injuries wore hard hats even though many were required to wear them.
- Head injuries can result in traumatic brain injuries and death. More than 65,000 cases involving days away from work occurred due to head injuries in the workplace.
- The BLS reports that of workers who wore hard hats, 95% were required to do so by their employers.
- The BLS reports that head injuries account for 9% of all injuries in the workplace.
- 24% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are work related injuries, yet concussions in the workplace are often overlooked.
- According to a survey about worksite accidents and injuries conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 84% of all workers who suffered head injuries were not wearing head protection.