Head Injuries

Falls aren’t limited to work; they happen off the job too. According to the National Safety Council, 26% of deaths at home and community are caused by falls. The elderly are most prone to serious injury and or death but fall injuries are not limited to the elderly. Falls can cause cuts, broken bones and dislocations, however one of the most serious result of a fall, other than death, can be a head injury.

How this will affect you depends upon which part of your brain has been injured as a result of a fall or impact. Broken bones usually heal, but head injuries can result in life long serious problems, such as:

• Changes in personality, such as increased anxiety, depression or anger.
• Difficulties with eye and hand coordination, and inability to handle tools or play sports well.
• Defects in vision and visual illusions.
• Short-term memory loss or interference with long term memory.
• Increased aggressive behavior.
• Difficulty in distinguishing left from right.
• Changes in social behavior

 
How you fall or how you land can determine the extent of your injury. From the time someone starts to fall, several factors influence what part of the body will be injured and how severe the damage will be such as:

• Distance of the fall
• The angle of the body at impact
• The obstacles the body strikes
• The surface eventually landed on
• What Can You Do? PAY ATTENTION

 
According to Workers Comp and the BLS, upward of 85% of accidents are caused by human error, play it safe and avoid taking risks. Report unsafe conditions to the nearest supervisor and make it a habit to work safely, regardless of time pressures and productivity goals. Know how to use fall protection and fall restraint equipment. Never say, “I’ll only be up there a minute.” Practice caution at home – accidents and head injuries from falls happen more often off the job than at work. Stay Alert! Head injuries can have devastating consequences that may impact your life forever.