One of the major motivating factors behind the formation of labor unions in the United States was the desire to raise the standards of workplace safety and the quality of life of employees. The rise of industrialization dramatically expanded the number of dangerous implements and machines and placed workers in a variety of hazardous occupations that simply did not exist before. Though significant improvements have certainly been made over the past century, there are still an alarming number of workplace accidents and occupational illnesses that affect Iowa workers each year.
Occupational injuries can lead to a variety of complications for the affected employee and his or her family. The physical pain and impairment that arise only represent the first, and in some ways the simplest, effects of a workplace accident. Disagreements over a workers' compensation claim and the assignment of blame for a workplace injury can create an uncomfortable tension amongst co-workers or between an employee and management. Moreover, the financial implications of an injury or illness that prevents an individual from returning to work immediately and at full capacity can leave a family struggling to meet financial obligations and basic needs.
Iowa Occupation Injury Incidence Rates for 2008
Until you are directly affected by a workplace injury, either your own or your spouse's, it is easy to view occupational accidents and illnesses as problems that exist in other people's lives. But a moment of lapsed attention can render an otherwise able-bodied worker suddenly incapable of performing the tasks for which he or she has been trained. In some cases these injuries may inflict a person with lifelong disabilities, and the emotional effects of losing an important part of one's identity can take a toll not only on his or her self-esteem but also on interpersonal relationships.
In Iowa during 2008 there were nearly 75,000 reportable occupational injuries and illnesses. That means that every day roughly 200 families were forced to cope with unexpected medical necessities and potentially devastating consequences of incidents or ongoing circumstances in the workplace. Some of the most dangerous industries, as judged by the incidence rate of nonfatal injuries, were:
Health care and social assistance in nursing and residential care facilities - 14.9 % of workers
Food manufacturing, non-poultry animal slaughtering - 13.5 % of workers
Service providing, water, sewage, and other system utilities - 11.7 % of workers
Food manufacturing, animal slaughtering overall - 11.2 % of workers
Injured and Need Help?
We are able to answer many of the most pressing questions that arise about workplace injuries and workers' compensation. Contact the Des Moines workers compensation lawyers of LaMarca & Landry, P.C.
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