Definition - What does occupational injury mean?

An occupational injury refers to a job-related incident in which an employee sustains a harmful wound or serious illness that limits or inhibits the worker’s capacity to execute duties and tasks in an efficient and productive manner. Occupational injuries can impose major financial constraints on employers due to factors associated to liability and production loss; including scenarios such as higher insurance costs and decreased labor force.

SureHire explains occupational injury

An occupational injury relates to an employee who experiences an injury during work, or on the worksite, with distinct consequences that can be traumatic, or lethal, depending on the severity of the circumstances. The workplace can pose environmental risks and hazards that, in the absence of effective safety protocol, can substantially disrupt general production in terms of manufacturing stagnation, higher health insurance costs, exorbitant medical bills, wage reductions, and decreased morale.

Occupational injuries can encompass a broad scope of different work-related accidents and/or sicknesses. Consequently, employees who are injured require special attention such as a leave of absence or assignment to light duties in compliance to Occupational Safety Health Standards, or OSHA, regulations as applicable.

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