When a serious accident happens on an industrial worksite, death can be instantaneous. Those blessed with surviving the incident may still suffer catastrophic bodily harm that causes permanent disability and an altered life for both the worker-victim and his or her loved ones. For many of these worker-victims, their bodily harm will be the result of a work-related blunt trauma injury.
What is a Blunt Trauma Injury?
Whenever a human body comes into contact with a blunt object at any degree of force, the victim can suffer a “blunt impact injury.” At one end of the continuum, these injuries are minor, such as contusions where the person suffers bruises or abrasions. There may be minor cuts (“lacerations”), too.
However, when the impact involves an excessive amount of energy and speed, that blunt impact results in a traumatic injury that can involve broken fingers, hands, arms, feet, or legs (“fractures”). Blunt traumatic injuries can be immediately fatal, especially if the object hits the worker-victim in the head. Sometimes, the victim will survive the initial trauma from the accident but will be unable to recover from the blunt trauma injury, as for example when death results from excessive blood loss (“exsanguination”) and hemorrhaging.
A work-related blunt trauma injury is bodily harm that happens during the course and scope of the victim’s employment.
Danger of Dismissing Severity of Blunt Trauma Injuries
In any industrial accident where something has hit a worker, regardless of the weight of the object or the force or speed at which it has hit the worker, there needs to be a fast and thorough assessment of what has happened.
Blunt trauma injuries are notorious for not “presenting” until some time has passed after the incident itself. Things like ruptured blood vessels may not be instantly evident, especially when the brain or nervous system is involved. Symptoms may take hours, days, or even weeks to fully develop.
For many, these blunt trauma accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries (“TBIs”) or spinal cord injuries where full or partial paralysis can result with permanent or fatal harm to the nervous system.
Many blunt trauma injuries on the job are categorized as blunt abdominal trauma (“BAT”), where the victim’s abdomen is hit with a force of impact causing things like intestinal hemorrhaging or displacement of internal organs, which can lead to deadly infections.
All too often, workers will be willing to get back on the job after a blunt force trauma accident. This possibility exists because they are themselves unaware that they have suffered serious harm. They may think they are fine, when they’re not. In other circumstances, they may be dizzy, confused, or in pain but feel pressured to get back to work by the powers-that-be.
It is part of the legal duty of care and safety placed upon employers and others with possession, custody, or control of aspects of the industrial worksite to make sure these blunt force trauma injuries are given proper respect, care, and treatment when they happen.
Not only are employers well-advised to warn their employees of the particular hazards involved in their workplace, they should train their workers in appropriate safety procedures when an accident happens on the job site. Employers also have a duty to make sure that the worker gets proper medical care and treatment as required. This means having emergency plans to deal with any blunt trauma injury on the site until trained medical professionals can arrive (e.g., first responders, EMS, etc.).
Industrial Workers at Greatest Risk of Blunt Trauma Injuries on the Job
Any worker is vulnerable to being hurt in a work accident that results in blunt force trauma. However, there are some industries where the risk of suffering a blunt trauma injury is notoriously high. These include those workers involved in:
- Residential Construction
- Commercial Construction
- Manufacturing
- Maritime
- Mining
- Transportation
- Warehousing.
For one recent example, read of the tragedy suffered just this month at one of our Indiana warehouse facilities in “Coroner says blunt force injury killed worker at Amazon warehouse in Indiana,” written by the Associated Press and published by the San Diego Union-Tribune on May 10, 2023.
Any industry here in Indiana and Illinois where workers are required to deal with industrial equipment, heavy machinery, power tools, industrial trucks, or large motor vehicles must be alert and aware of the hazards they face in a possible blunt force trauma accident. These can involve:
- Caught-In Between Accidents
- Falls
- Forklift Accidents
- Heavy Machinery, Equipment, or Power Tool Accidents
- Struck-By Accidents.
For more, read:
- Caught In-Between Hazards: One of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” Deadly Construction Accidents
- Dropped Objects: Workers Hurt or Killed by Falling Objects on the Job Site
- Fatal Falls on the Job and the Employers Failure to Protect Worker From Fall Risk
- Forklift Accidents: Employer’s Duty to Keep Workers Safe in Indiana and Illinois
- Heavy Machinery Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
- Beware One of the Deadliest Dangers on Construction Sites: Struck-By Accidents
- Worker Injuries Involving Industrial Equipment, Machinery, or Tools.
Justice for Industrial Workers Suffering Blunt Force Trauma Injuries on the Job
When a worker employed in one of our preeminent industries here in Indiana or Illinois, like our steel mills; warehousing facilities; manufacturing; transportation; construction; agri-business; food manufacturing and distribution; or maritime/shipping, is hurt on the job, there is a disturbingly high risk they will suffer a blunt force trauma injury.
These bodily injuries can happen in a variety of industrial accidents, and in a matter of seconds, a worker can perish or suffer permanent bodily harm. Survivors of blunt force trauma injuries may need extended care for the remainder of their lives.
They may need rehabilitation and other continuing medical services after going through an amputation of one or more limbs; or the limitations on bodily functions (including paralysis) that comes with internal organ injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries may result in the need for lifelong medical care and assistance.
Worker-victims and their loved ones will be able to seek justice under the laws of Indiana and Illinois, as well as federal law, when applicable. Workers’ compensation as well as third party civil actions may provide legal redress to workers and their families who are seeking justice in the aftermath of tragedy.
See:
- Premises Liability and Workplace Accidents: Third Party Injury Claims
- Multiple Employers on the Construction Site: Who Is Liable For Construction Worker Accidents?
- The Two Main Differences Between Workers Compensation and Personal Injury Claims for Accident Victims in Indiana and Illinois.
Under the law, workers in Indiana and Illinois have legal protections creating duties for employers to keep them safe on the job. Sadly, when a company with a legal duty of care makes a mistake or intentionally disregards safety on the worksite, a worker can be severely injured in a blunt trauma accident. Please be careful out there!
