Indiana Workplace InjuriesJUST HOW SAFE ARE INDIANA WORKERS?

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At Work in IndianaHoosiers know the value of hard work.

Unfortunately, many Indiana workers

also suffer workplace injuries. On-the-

job injuries can happen to anyone, in

any type of job. However, there are

certain industries that are more

hazardous than others. How do these

injuries happen, and what can workers

do after they suffer a major injury?

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Worker Rights in Indiana

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All workers have the right to a safe workplace.

Workers have the right to voice concerns over workplace safety without fear of

reprimand or termination by their employers. This includes requesting inspections

and speaking openly to inspectors.

Workers have the right to be trained in a language they understand.

Workers have the right to be protected from toxic chemicals, dangerous machinery

and hazardous materials.

Workers have the right to review records of hazardous workplace reports, workplace

injury and illness logs, and to obtain copies of their own medical records.

Indiana Workplace Injuries - By the Numbers

In 2014, the last year for which there are available statistics:

Over 93,000 Indiana workers reported injuries and illnesses.

Four out of every 100 Indiana workers suffered a non-fatal injury or

illness.

There were 127 fatal workplace injuries in Indiana.

The leading causes of workplace fatalities were transportation

incidents; workplace violence; falls, slips and trips; contact with

objects and equipment; and fires and explosion.

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Common Workplace Injuries Traumatic Brain Injuries

Spinal Cord Injuries

Fractures

Organ Damage

Burn Injuries

Back Injuries

Loss of Limbs/Amputations

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The Most Dangerous Industries For Indiana Workers

Of the all the Indiana workplace fatalities in 2014:

Over 20 percent were in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing injuries.

Over 14 percent were from construction injuries.

10 percent were from transportation and warehousing injuries.

Over 8 percent were in the administrative and waste services.

Nearly 8 percent were in the manufacturing industry.

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Agriculture and Farm AccidentsEvery year, 20 to 25 members of farm families suffer fatal work-related injuries in Indiana. Common farm work hazards include:

Tractor Accidents Respiratory Diseases and

Illnesses Pesticide Exposure Faulty Farm Equipment (or

Improper Maintenance) Livestock Accidents

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Construction InjuriesJust like in the rest of the nation, Indiana construction workers face a number of hazards on the job. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration says that four types of injuries, known as the Fatal Four, caused over half of all construction worker deaths in 2014. They are:

Falls - These injuries often occur due to scaffolding collapses and loose flooring.

Electrocutions Being struck by or against an object Caught in or between objects or

equipment

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What To Do After A Workplace Accident Inform your employer or supervisor, preferably in writing.

Seek immediate medical attention.

Keep copies of all medical bills.

Keep a journal regarding your injuries, treatment, recovery, correspondence

with employers and doctors, and your time off of work.

Consult an attorney for assistance in workers’ compensation matters.

Do NOT speak with insurance companies or representatives of the company

regarding your injuries. Instead, direct them to your attorney.

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Indiana Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation claims are intended to provide injured

workers benefits to cover the costs of injuries.

Workers cannot be fired for filing these claims.

Workers are eligible to file claims from the first day on the job.

If the compensation offered by your employer or their

insurance company is inadequate, you can dispute the claim.

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Independent Contractors and Workers’ Compensation

Generally speaking, contractors are not entitled to the same benefits as employees. However, a worker can sometimes prove that, even though an employer lists them as a contractor, they are actually an employee. This is especially true for workers who...

Receive all or most of their income from a single employer

Work in the same space as their employer

Have their equipment provided by their employer

Are provided training by their employer.

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Have You Suffered a Workplace Injury?

The workplace injury attorneys at McNeely Stephenson can help. We have represented many workers in a pursuit of the compensation that

they deserve. Workers need benefits to cover medical bills, ongoing treatment, lost wages and, in some cases, loss of work capacity.

Contact McNeely Stephenson today for a free consultation. Absolutely no cost to you unless we win.

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How We Have Helped Our Clients

Our legal team has helped many of our

clients receive the payments owed to

them by their employers, from a printing

company worker injured by dangerous

machinery to a truck driver who suffered

an injury by an electrical shock from an

exposed wire while on a delivery.

To learn more about our clients’ stories,

see our case results.

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