Workplace Violence and Injuries

TYLER and LONGVIEW, Texas. Industrial injuries due to poor equipment safety or due to accidents on the job are common enough and can leave many victims struggling to seek medical care or receive worker’s compensation if a claim is denied. However, a recent report indicates that accidents might not be the only thing affecting workers’ safety on the job. According to the Atlantic, violence is the third leading cause of death on the job. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration reports that 11% of on the job injuries can be attributed to workplace violence. 

What contributes to these statistics? Some of the violence can be linked to failed love affairs and other cases of violence occur due to disgruntled former employees. In some cases, workers are even killed or hurt to cover up fraud. The Atlantic reports that this “red collar crime” may not be properly studied and may be more prevalent than one might think. In fact, research has found that in the top levels of the business world, the same traits that might get a person promoted to the highest levels of a business might also be the same traits that are also linked to psychopathy and narcissism. While not all office psychopaths might end up violent, some do, and there isn’t a great deal of research on what differentiates those who turn violent from those who do not.

The OHSA reports that there are certain risk factors that put a person more at risk of workplace violence. These factors include jobs that put workers in contact with the public, jobs where people deliver packages, goods, or services, and people who work with certain populations, like mental health workers, social workers, and police officers. Late-night workers may also be at risk. Individuals who work in high risk fields have a right to be protected. For example, some employers can create physical barriers between workers and the general public. Panic buttons can also bring authorities to the scene faster. Lighting, cameras, and other security features can also create another layer of protection. Finally, proper training about how to handle an emergency can also go a long way.

If you’ve suffered an injury due to violence on the job, you may have certain rights under the law. Workers have rights following workplace violence. The Cooper Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Longview and Tyler, Texas who may be able to assist you with a worker’s compensation claim or help you pursue another settlement, if permitted.

Despite these statistics, falls and car accidents remain greater risks on the job. If you or a loved one is hurt on the job, you may be entitled to seek damages through worker’s compensation. A qualified industrial injury lawyer may be able to help you make a claim or appeal a denied claim. The Cooper Law Firm are industrial injury attorneys in Tyler and Longview, Texas who work closely with individuals who have been injured on the job.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037