On-the-job accidents in Pennsylvania can happen at any time of the day. However, studies have revealed that night shift workers are much more likely to injure themselves than day shift workers. A single night shift worker could cost their employer thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation.
Why do more accidents happen during the night shift?
Studies have shown that people who work from midnight to 6 a.m. are five times as likely to get in accidents than day shift workers. People who work from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. are a whopping fifteen times more likely to get into an accident. This information suggests that the majority of workers’ compensation payouts go to night shift employees.
Short staffing might be one reason that night shift workers suffer from more accidents. If a company doesn’t have enough employees, they might ask their workers to take nighttime and early morning shifts. This can require them to take several hours of overtime each week. Their employees might get overtime pay, but they also lose the opportunity to rest and recuperate after work.
Fatigue could be another cause of workplace accidents. Most people are used to working during the day and sleeping at night. Night shifts force them to stay up all night when they’d normally be asleep. When they’re fatigued on the job, they might have trouble concentrating and staying awake. Fatigue can even affect their decision-making abilities. Before the night is over, they might end up making a call to a workers’ compensation attorney.
Were you injured on the job?
The law requires most businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re injured on the job, you have the right to take advantage of this opportunity. An attorney could help you apply for workers’ comp and ensure that you get a fair payout.