Cleveland is home to several auto and auto part manufacturing facilities. The industry continues to thrive in this region, but such work exposes employees to potentially catastrophic injury hazards.
People often seek auto manufacturing jobs because the industry is stable and pays a decent wage however, you should know about the injury risks you might face if you want to remain healthy enough to continue working for many years.
What causes the most non-fatal injuries?
According to injury and accident data, overexertion was the cause of most non-fatal automotive injuries in 2018. More than 40% of reported injuries arose from overexertion during strenuous tasks, leading to muscle sprains and strains.
At 30%, the second-leading cause of work injuries is contact with industry equipment, such as getting struck by or caught in a machine. Slips, trips and falls were the third leading injury cause at 21%.
Leading causes of fatal injuries
Unfortunately, workplace accidents in the auto manufacturing arena can lead to fatalities. The top causes of accidental death in the industry during 2018 include the following:
- Overexertion (and the body’s reaction) led to the most fatalities at 27%.
- Contact with equipment and objects took second place at 21%
- Slips, trips and falls came in third at 15%
Transportation-related incidents (like vehicle collisions) and exposure to harmful or toxic substances each accounted for 12% of industry fatalities.
Contrary to what you may have heard, both union and non-union manufacturing workers are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. After addressing your medical needs in the wake of an injury, learn more about your rights. Familiarizing yourself with Ohio’s workers’ compensation laws is an ideal first step.