Tag Archives: TBI

HEAD INJURY: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE (GUEST POST)

By Michael Pines 

There’s no doubt that occupations such as construction, manufacturing, utilities, and transportation can increase the risk of head injury in the workplace. But no matter what kind of job you hold, you can strive for safety in the workplace with the right kind of equipment and proper training.

Here’s what you need to know about head injuries and how to stay safe. While it’s up to the employer to provide a safe working environment – from protective gear to safety policies and procedures – you can take extra steps today to help reduce your risk for personal injury.

Head injuries are difficult to diagnose

One of the problems with diagnosing head injury is that imaging tests don’t provide the total picture. Medical diagnosing can be difficult, which can cause more stress on the injured individual. And because brain injuries can be unique person-to-person, taking the time to identify an injury can also cause delays in treatment. An MRI and CT scan might appear completely normal, while the individual suffers from pain, confusion, dizziness, and even memory loss. That’s why doctors often rely on a combination of factors to diagnose a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

But even then, it isn’t so simple. Those who experience severe brain injury pain can go years without a medical diagnosis.

But, the medical community is working towards finding a solution. Recent studies point to brain fibers, also called axons, which link nerves in the brain together that, when severed, can cause a TBI. When these nerves are jolted, or stressed in any way, the brain can suffer damage including symptoms ranging from headaches to swelling and permanent disabilities.

When brain fibers are damaged, “the neurons are not structurally altered but electrophysiologically they’re dysfunctional,” said John T. Povlishock, lead researcher at the Virginia Commonwealth University where the study is undergoing. “Does a repeat injury in a specific time frame … lead to an exacerbation of this or dramatic exacerbation? We don’t know. That’s the next step.”

It’s never been more important to protect your head in the workplace, especially if you work in an occupation with an increased risk for injury. While the medical community works toward better treatment, you can stay safe at work by considering the following tips. Don’t let traumatic brain injury happen to you – the quality of your life depends on it!

Workplace injury: take action

As personal injury attorneys in San Diego, we work with injured people every day. And it goes without saying that severe injury is devastating for the individuals and families who are affected. Brain injuries are some of the most unyielding injuries that can often last a lifetime. We’ve worked with people who lead perfectly normal lives until — in a split second moment — an accident changes their outlook forever. And even more disheartening is the fact that many of these brain injuries could have been avoided with the right safety equipment. That’s why we urge workers in construction, utility, transportation, manufacturing or any other laborious job to strongly equip themselves with the best safety gear possible, especially with regard to proper head gear. Consider the following tips to help reduce accidents in your workplace. And remember: always wear a helmet or other protective head equipment at work.

Speak up at work

If your workplace is unsafe, or has poor policies and procedures in place, do not hesitate to talk to your supervisor about the issue. You can prevent serious injury today by identifying unsafe working conditions. If your employer refuses to hear your concerns, you may take your complaints to OSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Replace old equipment

If you are already using proper head gear, we applaud you for your safety efforts. Take your concern for safety a step further by replacing old, worn, or recalled equipment. Generally speaking, most individuals who work in laborious environments can expect to replace equipment on a yearly basis.

Get the safety training you need

While most employers do a good job of training employees in safety and precaution, there are some workplaces that do not sufficiently provide safety training. Consider being your workplace spokesperson for safety: ask you supervisor about ongoing safety courses, especially if any new products or procedures have been implemented.

Helmets: you need them!

There’s no doubt about it: you need to protect your head if your occupation poses injury risk. Get the equipment you need, and never consider going to work without your safety gear. Your life depends on it.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

As San Diego’s most trusted personal injury law firm since 1992, we are the legal experts people turn to first when injured in any kind of accident. Because we work with accident victims on a daily basis, we have a unique lens into the devastating world of brain and head injury. Mike, our firm’s founder, is an Accident & Injury Prevention Expert and is on a campaign to end senseless injury and death one blog at a time. Follow him on Twitter and join the conversation on Facebook.

 

UNDERSTANDING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

The human brain is the most complex organ in the human body, producing every thought, action, memory, feeling, and experience.  As there are constantly connecting and changing nerve cells, memories are stored in the brain, habits are learned, and personalities shaped.  Our brain structure is shaped partly by genes but mainly by experience.  How it ages depends on both genes and lifestyle.  The brain needs to be properly exercised and fed the right diet, just as the rest of our body requires. 

During our lifetime, things happen that can have a lasting effect on our bodies.  Persons may suffer head injuries due to a car accident, a hard fall, blows to the head to athletes. Military personnel suffer TBI’s as a result of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) and other horrors of war. 

About 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States annually.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says traumatic brain injuries kill about 52,000 Americans every year, and result in 275,000 hospitalizations.  A bump, blow, or jolt to the head may be severe enough to disrupt normal brain function.  The CDC also reports that falls are the Number 1 leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, but road traffic injuries are second, and result in the highest percentage of deaths – 31.8%. 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is commonly referred to as a concussion.  There may be a brief loss of consciousness or disorientation, ranging up to 30 minutes. Damage may not be visible on an MRI or CAT scan.  Symptoms of MTBI are headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fatigue.  MTBI can have long-term effects.  

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury results in loss of consciousness for over 30 minutes, or amnesia.  The same symptoms of MTBI are included, along with others, such as vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, slurred speech, and  loss of coordination. 

Our military personnel are furnished helmets for head protection.  Athletes also wear helmets to protect from head and neck injury.  These helmets should be of good quality. Motorcyclists should always wear their helmets, as well as bicyclists.

It makes sense that when personal protective equipment is furnished for employees, company supervisors should be sure that their employees are in compliance.  ANSI Hard hats should have a rigid external shell that resists and deflects blows to the head.  Inside that shell is a suspension system that acts as a shock absorber.  Hardhats are constructed with partial or full brims.  The full brim protects from spills, splashes and drips.  Many hardhats can accommodate faceshields, earmuffs, and other accessories needed to make the job easier and safer.  Knowing all this, statistics show that often workers who suffer impact injuries to the head are not wearing head protection at the time of injury.   

Wearing all types of Personal Protective Equipment is the responsibility of each employee.  It has been purchased for good reason, just as it is called: Personal and Protective.  Every one should use their head, and wear that helmet or hardhat!