There are 11,496 factories in North Carolina. These facilities make North Carolina eighth in the United States for factory economic output, leading the Southeast. The largest sectors in North Carolina’s factory production are fabricated metal production, food manufacturing, and chemical production.
Factory workers create products by transforming materials and substances using mechanical, physical, and chemical processes. Factory work can be dangerous.
Our experienced Jacksonville workers compensation lawyers at Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys explain the most common causes of factory injuries in NC.
Factory Workers and Injury Statistics in North Carolina
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 12 million people work in manufacturing in the United States. There are approximately 467,000 factory workers in North Carolina.
In one year, there were 373,300 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in private manufacturing in the United States. Thirty-five percent of cases required time away from work, while 29% of cases resulted in job restriction or transfer.
Fatal factory work hazards in North Carolina
In 2023, there were 391 fatal manufacturing-related occupational deaths in the United States.
Contact incidents were the most common accidents in manufacturing that resulted in death.
Other causes were transportation incidents, harmful exposure, violence, falls, slips, and trips. Of all fatal workplace injuries in the United States in 2023, 7.4% of injuries were in the manufacturing sector.
Overview of Factory Work Hazards in North Carolina
Factories are full of materials, workers, machines, and equipment, all of which can be hazardous. Some dangers are inherent in working with heavy equipment and moving objects.
Other dangers come from human error and poor communication.
Factory work hazards in North Carolina can result in accidents. Whether a person is injured because of a common cause or an unusual situation, they may have the right to claim benefits and compensation. They may have the help of a North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.
Top Five Causes of Factory Accidents
Leading causes of factory accidents in North Carolina include the following.
1. Physical, including slips and falls
Slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of factory accidents. There may be many underlying causes, such as:
- Cluttered workspace
- Cramped workspace
- Too many people in one area
- Slippery flooring
- Broken or uneven flooring
- Lack of handrails
- Spills, debris, or dust on the floor
- Inadequate lighting
- Worker fatigue
- Moving too quickly to complete tasks
- Protruding objects
- Poorly designed workspace
- Lack of safety stops, shutoffs, and emergency response training
A slip, trip, or fall may involve a fall from an elevated surface to a lower surface or may be a fall on the same level. Common injuries include brain trauma, broken bones, strains, cuts, bruises, and psychological injury.
2. Ergonomic
Factory workers perform tasks that are often repetitive. A worker needs training in how to perform the task safely, including lifting, turning, and strain on the hands and arms.
Injury may occur from repetitive tasks. A person may simply be overexerted, without proper tools, protective equipment, or rest breaks. A task may need to be modified for the best height, direction, speed, or technique for the person.
Even with proper technique, training, and the appropriate safeguards, repetitive motion can cause injury. A person may suffer from joint and ligament overuse injury, muscle strains, nerve damage, stress fractures, and other ergonomic injuries.
Noise injury in NC factories
A common cause of factory injury in NC that is often overlooked is noise. Workers may spend most of their day in a loud environment. Some noise levels are loud enough to cause hearing damage without causing pain.
3. Chemical
Factories use chemicals to make products, and these substances may be harmful before or after they are used in the production process.
Chemicals may not be stored or handled properly. A worker may not have the appropriate respiratory protection and ventilation in the work area to prevent illness. A person may be harmed by chemicals through breathing, ingesting, or having skin contact with the substance.
A worker may suffer from acute distress or a chronic illness, such as respiratory distress or physical injury like a burn. A factory worker may also face the risk of suffocation.
4. Mechanical, machinery malfunction, or misuse
Machine-related injuries may involve presses, blades, and conveyors. A worker may be struck by an object or equipment. They may be crushed by machinery, pulled, or hurt in a pinch point. A person may suffer a cutting injury from contact with sharp machinery.
Machines should be equipped with guards. Guards protect workers from hazards like sharp and protruding pieces, heat, and moving parts.
When guards are inadequate or not maintained, preventable harm may occur. Machines should have accessible shut-off mechanisms for fast response to emergencies.
In addition to injuries from machinery, a person may be hurt by tools, vehicles, carts, and other items they use to perform their work.
5. Electrical, Fires, Explosions
A factory environment creates a danger of fire, explosions, and electrical accidents. Factory work may involve flammable materials, electricity, and heat. Safe electrical operation and routine maintenance can minimize the risk of electrical hazards.
Steps Employers Should Take To Prevent Workplace Accidents
Employers should evaluate the workplace environment and identify hazards. They should actively minimize the risk of factory injuries, giving workers the space, tools, training, and personal protective equipment to do the job safely. Workers may need individual adjustments to safely perform their tasks. Machinery and equipment needing maintenance should be tagged or locked out of service to prevent misuse.
Response to workplace emergency
When incidents occur, employers should be ready with an emergency response program.
Workers should know how to alert others to an emergency and how to summon emergency responders.
Contact an Experienced Jacksonville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you have been hurt in a factory in NC, we invite you to contact an experienced Jacksonville workers’ compensation injury lawyer. Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, handle cases involving both common and uncommon causes of injury. Whatever the situation, we fight for the benefits and compensation that our clients deserve. Call or message us now.
