When a person experiences a workplace accident that causes an unexpected and abrupt jolt to the head, they run the risk of developing a traumatic brain injury. The forceful impact can cause the soft brain tissue to smack into the hard bony skull, damaging the delicate tissue. According to the National Library of Medicine, there are at least 1.7 million reported cases of traumatic brain damage every year across the country. Brain damage is considered one of the most common workplace injuries in the U.S. and is a major cause of loss of production for companies across many industries.
Depending on the site of injury and the extent of the damage, traumatic brain injuries can cause long-lasting damage that may affect a person’s ability to return to work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TBI has many psychological, physical, cognitive and social ramifications that can make it difficult for people to perform simple everyday tasks or work in an environment that is emotionally stressful.
Some of the most common symptoms of traumatic brain injury include the following:
- Moodiness, drowsiness and changes in personality.
- Trouble focusing on tasks, planning, organizing and remembering events.
- Decreased ability to hear, see or perceive stimuli.
- Emotional anxiety and/or depression.
- Constant headaches, nausea and vomiting.
In some cases, people may be unable to return to their jobs because their symptoms prevent them from effective performance. Employees may be forced into a new line of work or could be unable to work in any type of position in extreme cases.