Older and Brand-New Workers Top the Charts for Workplace Injuries

If you are a new or older worker suffering a workplace injury, the Delaware personal injury lawyers at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help you navigate the legal process. Call or visit our firm today in Seaford, Wilmington, or Newark.

According to a recent article released by SHRM, research indicates that older workers have the most expensive workplace injuries and conditions, and new workers experience the highest number of injuries in the workplace. This information was collected by Travelers Insurance, based on workers’ compensation claims that were filed between 2016 and 2020. Per their findings:

• More than 1 million workers’ compensation claims were filed between 2016 and 2020.
• Around 34% of injuries occurred in the workplace during the individual’s first year at their position.
• The first-year workplace injuries made up about 7 million missed days of work.
• The workers’ compensation claims that were the costliest came from older workers who were 60 or older.
• The workers’ compensation claims for older workers (60+) were almost 140% more expensive than younger workers between the ages of 18 and 24.

What does this data mean?

This data collected by the insurance company basically shows that newer employees are being injured in very high amounts, and older employees over the age of 60 have the most serious, long-lasting, and high-priced workers’ compensation claims than any other group. There could be various reasons for this. For example, new workers may lack the proper training and equipment needed when they first start a job, and older workers may take longer to recover and heal.

The most common workplace injuries that newer and older workers experience

Among both brand-new and older workers, the most common injuries that the study showed include:

• Strains and sprains: Strains and sprains are very similar with slight differences. A strain occurs when your muscles or tendons experience stretching or tearing, and a sprain occurs when your ligaments experience stretching or tearing. Sprains and strains made up almost 40%of all workers’ compensation claims in the study.
• Fractured bones: A fractured bone is when you experience a crack or complete break in your bone. These injuries are very painful and take some time from which to heal. They accounted for 13% of injuries reported for workers’ compensation and were the second most expensive claims.
• Severe bruises: Bruises are usually a sign that you are bleeding underneath the skin. They typically occur when you hit or bump into something forcefully. Bruises almost always heal on their own, even though they can affect your ability to carry out normal tasks due to the pain and discomfort that they cause. These injuries made up close to 10% of workers’ compensation claims.
• Inflammation and swelling: Inflammation and swelling are the human body’s way of fighting off harmful diseases, illnesses, and injuries. Individuals may experience redness, pain, stiffness, and inability to move certain limbs or body parts as a result of inflammation. Inflammation accounted for 7% of workplace injuries between 2016 and 2020.
• Dislocated joints: A person may have a dislocated joint if their bone has moved from its correct position. This frequently happens during accidents. Dislocated joints lead to pain and swelling, and individuals need emergency medical assistance as soon as possible to put their joints back into place. Around 7% of individuals who filed workers’ compensation claims stated they had a dislocated joint. These injuries were the most expensive claims in the study.

What typically causes most of these injuries among newer and older workers?

Since every individual’s accident and injuries come with their own unique circumstances, it can be difficult to pinpoint what exactly causes injuries among any age group. However, the study showed that these causes made up the majority of injuries among new and older workers:

• Overexertion
• Slips and falls
• Struck or hit by an object
• Car accidents
• Caught-between accidents

What types of industries employ more older and younger workers?

A 2021 article from USA Today went over the types of jobs that are more likely to employ more older workers. Here are their findings:

• Farming, ranching, and agricultural industries
• The school bus industry
• Judges and the legal industry
• The public transportation industry
• Administrative industries
• Engineering industry
• Travel industry
• Construction industry
• The postal industry

Also in 2021, another study conducted by Magnify Money found which industries are more likely to employ younger workers. These are the results:

• The exercise industry
• Hospitality industry
• Agricultural industry
• Dancing industry
• Veterinarian industry
• Retail industry
• Food industry
• Sports industry
• Entertainment industry

If you were recently involved in a workplace accident, the Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman will use their experience, knowledge, and skills to guide you through every hurdle and challenge of the legal system. Our lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience helping clients throughout Newark, Seaford, and Wilmington, and we are ready and available to help you as well. Call our office or submit our contact form at your earliest convenience to schedule your free, no-obligation case review.