Every employee is entitled to a safe work environment. But the reality is far from that perception.
Every day hundreds of thousands of people are injured at work.
There are many causes of work injuries. Let’s talk about some:
Work injuries at construct sites run rampant because of unsafe, defective, and poorly maintained equipment. Frequently, short cuts are taken to speed along projects and with short cuts come stupid, serious, and possibly fatal accidents. Many unscrupulous construction companies pay their sub-contractors and day workers low wages and do not take the time to train properly or there is a language barrier regarding training instruction. Sometimes inspectors turn to the other way as they are paid off to do so to not hamper a project.
Other common work injuries are exacerbated from toxic exposure. The most well-known to date is the asbestos and other toxic poisoning at Ground Zero which has severely impacted the health and well being among employees and contract workers regarding respiratory illnesses and cancer.
Through the ages asbestos poisoning has caused mesothelioma, a fatal form of slow growth lung cancer. Companies and corporations have recently been hit with settling major lawsuits for lives lost that can never be replaced.
Work injuries continue to happen in restaurants, hospitals, assembly lines, coal mines, car dealerships, retail, hotels, banks, offices, grocery stores, utility companies, laboratories, factories, police, fire department, radio and television stations, schools and colleges, airports, the military, and wherever people work hard. Wherever you work – look around – to see what the hazards are and if your workplace has a first aid kit and a safety manual. If your place of work is in need of first aid kits in strategic positions, you could try here to find precisely what you need should someone require immediate medical attention on the premises.
Many people who are injured at work are afraid to report it because they think it was their fault or perhaps they will be disciplined, docked salary, or worse – fired. Most likely it is not your fault. It is illegal to fire an employee after a work injury. The first thing you should do is report the injury to your supervisor. Your supervisor should determine if you need medical attention, and if so, either call an ambulance or see that you are taken to a doctor, urgent care, or hospital. Your supervisor should file an OSHA (occupational safety and health association) report with the state. If you are unable to work, you should receive workers compensation.
In a perfect world – that is the way it happens but many times the employer does not want to report a work injury. You may be harassed for reporting it or complaining about it. If you have suffered diminished quality-of-life work injuries and loss of limb or income or a parent, daughter or son, or spouse have died because of work injuries do not hesitate to talk to a law firm specializing in work injury settlements. The company and its insurance company will not work to protect your needs or pay your bills. The right law firm will take your case on a contingency basis which means if you don’t win your work injury claim; the law firm won’t be paid.
Contact The Bulldof Lawyers to find out what your legal options are.
