When workers are on the job, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur suddenly and without warning, leaving employees facing long-term medical care, lost income and lasting changes to their quality of life. Unfortunately, not all TBIs can be prevented. However, understanding how these injuries commonly happen can help workers to minimize their risk. This understanding can also inspire affected workers to seek financial benefits should accidents occur that damage the brain.
In Illinois, workers who suffer brain trauma on the job are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of fault for the brain-related trauma that they’ve suffered. These benefits may include medical care, wage replacement and compensation for permanent disability.
Why do job-related traumatic brain injuries typically occur?
Falls are one of the leading causes of workplace brain trauma. Slips on wet floors, falls from ladders or scaffolding and trips over uneven surfaces can result in head impact. Even a short fall can cause a concussion or more severe brain injury, especially if the head strikes concrete, machinery or other hard surfaces. In industries like construction, warehousing and manufacturing, fall risks are especially high.
Struck-by accidents are another major cause of brain injuries. Workers may be hit by falling tools, materials or equipment. In industrial settings, moving machinery or vehicles can strike a worker’s head or upper body with tremendous force. These impacts can cause skull fractures, brain bleeding or diffuse brain injury, even when protective gear is worn.
Vehicle-related incidents also contribute significantly to workplace brain trauma risk. Employees who drive as part of their job, such as delivery drivers, utility workers and construction crews, face risks from crashes, sudden stops and rollovers. Forklifts and other industrial vehicles can also cause serious head injuries when collisions occur in confined workspaces.
Being caught between objects is another dangerous scenario. When a worker’s head is pinned or crushed between equipment, walls or materials, the resulting trauma can be catastrophic. These accidents often happen in manufacturing or assembly environments and may inspire permanent cognitive or physical impairment.
Explosions or sudden pressure events can also lead to brain trauma, even without direct impact. Blast waves can cause concussive injuries that disrupt brain function. Workers in industrial, energy or chemical settings may face these risks when safety systems fail.
Understanding common causes of brain trauma on the job underscores the importance of safety measures generally and prompt medical evaluation in the wake of harm specifically. When harm does occur at work, despite a worker’s best efforts, know that seeking personalized legal guidance to better understand one’s rights and financial protections is always an option.