Whether you work as a teacher, trainer or librarian, it is pivotal to identify hazards that you face while performing your job duties. Although these occupations do not see high numbers of fatalities and serious injuries in comparison to other fields, many educators suffer debilitating injuries on the job.
It is crucial to go over data on these accidents and common hazards educators encounter in order to stay safe while working. If you have already suffered a work-related injury, you need to prioritize all aspects of your recovery.
Data on educators and nonfatal workplace accident risks
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published data on nonfatal job-related injuries involving educators. Over the course of 2014, a majority of injuries leading to missed work involving teachers, library workers and training-related occupations occurred due to trips, slips and falls. Additionally, 24% of injuries leading to time off work in these fields occurred due to violence involving people or animals. Overexertion, transportation-related accidents, exposure to toxic substances and contact with equipment also caused many teachers to miss work.
The prevalence of workplace accidents involving educators
The BLS states that during 2014, 13.9 out of every 10,000 full-time educators suffered injuries as a result of work-related violence, higher than the rate of injuries suffered due to violence among all workers (6.8 out of every 10,000). In 2014, more than 36,500 educators had to take time off due to nonfatal job-related injuries.
If you sustained an injury while teaching or working in a library, you need to carefully look into strategies that could benefit you on your path forward, such as holding a negligent party accountable and workers’ compensation.