Falls
Oil, other liquids or grease fall to factory floors every day. Since most factory floors have concrete surfaces, the risk of slipping and falling and suffering serious head and neck injuries is always present. There’s also a risk for tripping on uneven floor surfaces, materials, parts, cords and tools. Trips can lead to shoulder, head and facial injuries.Musculoskeletal Disorders
Some factory jobs are going to require excessive bending, twisting and working in awkward positions. Muscles, ligaments, tendons get strained and nerves become inflamed from excessing bending or working in unnatural positions. Knees, wrists, shoulders and the spine can all cause serious and permanently painful musculoskeletal disorders.Burns
Molten metals, steam, electricity, chemicals and hot equipment can all cause burns, especially in explosions. A worker’s clothing can even be set on fire. Severe burns can interfere with motion, even after skin grafting.Caught in Machinery
When moving equipment is involved, there’s always a risk of a worker getting caught and being pulled into it. Degloving, crushing and amputation can all accidentally result when a worker gets caught in machinery.

Exposure to Chemicals
Chemical exposure over time can cause skin and respiratory disorders. Some of the most common chemicals and toxins found in factories include mercury, benzene, acetone, and methanol. Even asbestos and arsenic are still used in manufacturing facilities.

Noise and Hearing Loss
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noise and chemicals can be harmful to the inner ear. About 22 million workers in the United States are exposed to hazardous noise levels on the job. About 25 percent of all hearing loss suffered by Americans is employment related.

Repetitive Stress Disorders
When a factory worker’s job requires him or her to repeatedly make the same body movements, a repetitive stress disorder can result. Wrists and hands are most vulnerable, and inflammation of the median nerve can occur. A serious and painful carpal tunnel condition might develop.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits
California law requires employers to pay workers’ compensation benefits when a factory employee is injured in the course of his or her employment by an anticipated and foreseeable risk of that employment. Injured employees are eligible for payment of all reasonable medical bills in connection with the accident, wage replacement during the period of recovery and any permanent disability. Even death benefits are available for the survivors of an individual who died in a work-related accident.

Disputes often arise between the victim, employer and workers’ compensation insurer on issues like the nature and extent of an injury, whether it was work-related, when the worker should return to work and the amount of compensation to be paid and received. You’ll want to be protected.