People in Michigan who work in dangerous fields may often worry about losing a limb. This fear may be common in factories, on construction sites and while felling trees. This is due in part to the use of machines with sharp blades that may cut through flesh and bone in these industries.
However, while amputations may result from workplace accidents, it is important to note that they do not always happen at the work site. Sometimes it is the severity of an injury that later prompts an amputation, such as after a hand or leg is crushed.
CNN reports that for 2015, workplace conditions led to 10,388 catastrophic injuries. These injuries led to hospitalization for 7,636 people. Additionally, 2644 amputations took place. There were also reports of people losing an eye.
The manufacturing industry took the lion’s share of the accidents, so if you work in this field, it is important to exercise special vigilance. Note that 26% of hospitalizations and 57% of amputations took place in this industry. Not surprisingly, transportation, oil and gas extraction, warehousing and constructions were also noted as dangerous industries.
What is worse is that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration suspects that in the states it monitors, 50% of injuries go unreported. Some of this may be a deliberate attempt to hide unfavorable data about a company, while some small businesses may be unaware that they need to report cases within 24 hours.
So, how likely are amputations due to workplace accidents? That depends on the industry you work in. If you have a desk job, then the chances are slim. However, for workers with blue collar jobs, there is a strong enough likelihood to cause concern.
This article is written for educational purposes and should not be used as legal or medical advice.
