Watch out for Common Autumnal Occupational Injuries

As the air gets cooler and days become shorter, the risks that employees face on the job change with the color of the falling leaves. Each season brings its own unique risks, from the danger of heat stroke on hot summer days to the frostbite and hypothermia that accompany blustery winter months. Autumn, a transitional season that can see both scorching days and icy early mornings, presents a blend of possible hazards for employees. Occupational injury risk tends to peak in August before declining to a low point in December, but employers and their employees need to be aware of the risks that autumn presents.¹ And when injuries do occur, employers should work with an occupational health partner, like Concentra^® can offer resources to treat both minor and serious injuries.

Common autumn injuries - falls

The season of fall got its name in the 1500s from the slightly longer phrase “the fall of the leaf”, in reference to the time of year when deciduous trees shed their leaves.² Unfortunately, fall is also a time when the risk of injuries from slips, trips, and falls is raised. These injuries can occur at any time of the year, but autumn combines multiple elements can exacerbate fall hazards. An increase in rainfall can lead to slippery or soggy ground, and wet leaves can make stairs and ladders slick. Fallen leaves can also mask holes, curbs, and other ground hazards.³ And in late fall, when many parts of the country experience their first freeze, icy walkways and other structures pose a fall risk.

Overall, slips, trips, and falls constitute 15 percent of all work accidents and are the second leading cause of workplace injuries. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 25,000 of these accidents occur every day.⁴ Apart from the sheer number of falls that employees experience, such injuries can lead to serious costs and days away from work for employers. In 2022, an NSC report found that falls led to 414,000 days away from work, job restriction, or job transfer cases and 275,660 days away from work cases.

When it comes to preventing slips, trips, and falls during autumn, many of best practices for all seasons apply:

• Remove debris from walkways and common paths
• Clean up spills immediately, especially in cold weather
• Use “wet floor” signs to warn of known hazards
• Use slip-resistant mats and flooring in wet and icy areas

Additionally, remind employees that leaves can obscure obstacles and encourage them to clear debris that builds up.

Common autumn injuries – darkness

Even in southern cities that keep green palm trees year-round and rarely see frigid temperatures, the continuing loss of daylight is a sign that autumn is in full swing. The bulk of US cities lose between 50 and 70 minutes of daylight during October while cities at northerly altitudes, like Minneapolis and Seattle, will lose a full hour and half across the month.⁵ Daylight is lost at both ends of the day – a minute or two every day at sunrise and sunset. For employees, this means that they may spend significant amounts of time working in darkness and artificial light.

Working in darkness has real risks beyond the drowsiness some may feel without the sun. The chance of being involved in a workplace accident can be up to 36 percent higher during hours of darkness.⁶ Darkness, even with artificial light sources for illumination, can lead to reduced visibility and decreased concentration levels, leading to workplace accidents. Additionally, drastic lighting changes, from darkness to bright work lights, can cause tiredness, eye strain, and distraction.⁷

The biggest danger in the fading light comes when employees turn back their clocks in November. The end of daylight savings time isn’t just annoying to some, it can be dangerous. A U.S. Department of Labor study spanning from 1983 to 2006 found that workplace injuries increased by 5.7 percent in the days following daylight saving time.⁸ The American Psychological Association has found that there are 3.6 more injuries on the Mondays following the switch to daylight saving time compared to other days. Additionally, those injuries are more severe, leading to 2,649 more days of work lost, a 68 percent increase.⁹ The sudden change in sunlight timing – shifting sunrises an hour earlier –  can throw off employees’ circadian rhythm and melatonin production, leading to drowsiness that can result in mental errors, shorter focus, or impulsive decision-making. These factors, in turn, can cause an increase in injuries.

For minor autumn injuries

When employees get injured during autumn, or during any time of the year, a trip to a medical center may not be necessary. A strong occupational health partner should offer a flexible telemedicine platform that meets employees where they are. Concentra Telemed® is available 24/7 in 43 states; it’s used to treat employees with relatively minor work injuries, including those that may occur from falls or in low light.

Employees can also have minor injuries assessed and treated at one of our over 540 medical centers. Concentra treats one in five workplace injuries across the country. Our unique approach to injury care includes referrals to in-house specialists, continued care coordination with in-house physical therapy, and our proprietary employer self-service portal for quick access to visit results and reports.

• Minor strains
• Minor sprains
• Bruises/contusions
• Tendonitis/repetitive-use injuries
• Minor burns
• Contusions
• Minor cuts and scrapes
• Work-related rashes
• Bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposures

Concentra Telemed can also be used for injury recheck visits, including some wound and laceration checks, second-degree burns, moderate cervical and low back injuries, significant sprains, strains, and contusions, and routine postoperative checks. Using telemedicine for minor injuries minimizes lost duty time, avoids unnecessary hospital or urgent care visits, and increases overall productivity. Employees get the care they need without the headaches of an outside medical visit.¹⁰

Employees can also have minor injuries assessed and treated at one of our over 540 medical centers. Concentra treats one in five workplace injuries across the country. Our unique approach to injury care includes referrals to in-house specialists, continued care coordination with in-house physical therapy, and our proprietary employer self-service portal for quick access to visit results and reports.

Treating autumnal injuries right

For more serious injuries, Concentra uses a specific approach to pain and injury care that improves the quality of injury recovery and helps accelerate return to work. Our FReSH scale, an acronym for Functional Restoration/Status of Healing, reframes the injury recovery experience for the injured employee. Physical therapists determine objective measures that take consider the severity of the injury, the individual, and a functional analysis of the job the individual was performing at the time of injury.¹¹ By focusing on function, not pain, our clinicians are able to gradually reduce restrictions on the employee’s activity status based on the established objective evaluations of progress. Employees treated using the FReSH scale often need fewer opioids during recovery, experience increased productivity and diminished anxiety, and recover more quickly.

Concentra in your corner

As the nation’s largest occupational health provider, Concentra is well-versed in the injury risks that arrive every autumn. With more than 540 medical centers across the country and Concentra Telemed available 24/7, we’re here for your employees day and night. To see how we can help you with your injury care needs, contact a Concentra representative today.

NOTES

1. “What are the deadliest days and months for workers?,” Safety and Health Magazine, August 24, 2022.
2. “Autumn vs. Fall: What Was the Season Called First?,” Dictionary.com, October 2, 2023.
3. “Why is Autumn Dangerous for Workers?,” DiTomaso Law, October 14, 2020.
4. “Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace,” Travelers, n.d.
5. “How much daylight have we lost this October?,” by Chris Oberholtz. Fox Weather, October 21, 2021.
6. “Don't leave staff in the dark about health & safety,” by Rebecca Fennell. Health and Safety Matters, April 14, 2016.
7. “Is Poor Lighting Putting Your Workers’ Safety and Health at Risk?,” Illuminated Integration, March 16, 2023.
8. Barnes, M.C., and Wagner, D.T. Changing to Daylight Saving Time Cuts Into Sleep and Increases Workplace Injuries. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2009, Vol. 94, No. 5, 1305-1317
9. “Saving Daylight, Increasing Danger: Daylight Saving Time Leads to Less Sleep, More Injuries on the Job,” by Christopher Barnes. American Psychological Association, January 22, 2009.
10. “Telemedicine in the Workplace,” Concentra, n.d.
11. “A New Alternative to the Pain Scale,” by Michelle Hopkins. Concentra, n.d.