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Anyone who works around electricity needs to ensure that they are being safe. Electrocution is a life-threatening emergency, so the risk must be minimized as much as possible. While it is easy to think that workers should be the ones to do this, the duty falls on the employer. There are two approaches that must be taken by workers who have to deal with potential hazards everywhere. One is that they must have proper tools and equipment. The other is that they should have appropriate training. Who is at risk? Everyone who has a job that puts them around electricity is at risk. Those who work in the construction industry account for 52 percent of all fatalities from exposure to electrical currents. Most often, this is due to contact with overhead power lines, but can also come from frayed wires and other sources of electricity. Electricians, engineers, and powerline workers are also at an increased risk. What are the best ways to minimize risks? The manner in which you minimize risks of electrical exposure depends on the specific hazards. While some situations might only have one of these present, others have multiple dangers listed below. Damaged tools or equipment: Anything that isn’t in good shape shouldn’t be used. It should be tagged so that it can be either repaired or replaced. Using the lock out tag out procedure established by the company can reduce this risk. Overhead power lines: Knowing where live overhead lines are located can help. These should be clearly marked so that they can be avoided. Anything that might come into contact with them should be kept a minimum of 10 feet away. Open electrical components: Things like temporary lighting and electrical cords can cause shocks. Sometimes, these might be on the ground, which can lead to them coming in contact with water. Any contact with water should be avoided since it increases the chance of shock. Overloaded circuit: Every outlet has a specific load limit that must be followed. Ideally, only single-outlet extension cords will be used since this allows the one item to be plugged in. Multiple outlet extension cords and power strips can quickly overload outlets. Workers who suffer from an electrical shock will likely need to have medical care. This is typically an emergency and must be treated as such. These workers should qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Feeding America is not a simple task. The farmers that plant and harvest the foods we eat often put in long hours and have to work even in the worst weather to protect their crops and livestock. Many farm workers follow the crops across the country, helping plant in one state in spring and then moving on to tend other crops elsewhere in the summer. The autumn harvest season is often particularly busy for farm workers, although there are always tasks to do year-round. Regardless of whether you work for the same farm all year or travel to different farms in different seasons, you have rights as a worker. If you get hurt on the job, you should receive workers’ compensation protections. Many agricultural workers wrongly believe they are not entitled to these critical benefits. However, these benefits extend to almost everyone employed in the United States. Even if you do not have all of the necessary paperwork for employment in the United States, the benefits that offer medical protection and lost wage coverage still apply to you. Farm machinery is a major source of injury Farming used to be an incredibly physical job that required manual labor around the clock. Thanks to modern machinery, while food production is still very labor-intensive, many of the most difficult tasks, such as plowing and planting, can now be handled by large machines. While those machines do save a lot of human labor, they also present a massive risk for injury to the workers who operate them. Farm machinery can cause lacerations, lost limbs, or severely broken bones. It only takes one wrong move to wind up with a limb crushed in a machine with so many moving parts. Even the machines that seem the simplest, tractors, are a major source of risk for agricultural workers. Tractors are prone to tipping, which can cause severe trauma for the person on the machine at the time. That makes them a leading cause of farmworker fatalities each year. Regardless of the nature of the machinery involved, injured workers should receive immediate medical care. Knowing your rights is the first step toward standing up for them Many people who work on farms are hesitant to invoke the legal protections in place for them. They may worry about losing their job or even about the potential for deportation if they report a workplace injury. Neither your employer nor the North Carolina government should retaliate against you for seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Consulting with an attorney who understands workplace protections for agricultural workers is an important first step for any farmworker who gets hurt. Your attorney can help you understand your rights and help you navigate the complex systems in place to connect you with the benefits that you need after a farm injury.

Being a pizza delivery driver for Domino’s or Papa John’s might not be the pinnacle of your career aspirations. However, many people find that working food delivery jobs allows them adequate time to pursue a college education. It’s also a good choice for a moonlighting job because pizza delivery drivers can often choose the hours they are available to work. But what happens if you get injured while on the job, e.g., you get T-boned at an intersection while delivering pizzas here in Wilmington? Are you entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits while you recuperate from your injuries? It depends on your employment status Most pizza delivery drivers are considered to be employees of the company for which they drive. This is especially true for large corporations like the two referenced above. As such, your accident and subsequent injuries should be covered under the auspices of the company’s workers’ comp. policy. However, restaurant delivery service companies like DoorDash, Waitr, and Grubhub typically considered their drivers to be independent contractors who are not covered by workers’ compensation benefits. Right to pursue claim affected by insurance status? There may also be some other avenues of financial recovery that are available to you after getting into a wreck delivering pizza. Your status as a delivery person for a pizza chain could potentially affect the viability of an insurance claim depending upon whether you were forthcoming about your job with your auto insurance provider. The reason for this is that auto insurance for a vehicle that is used for work purposes, i.e., to haul supplies, product or people, is usually quite a bit more expensive than a basic liability policy that covers non-employment driving. If you failed to notify your auto insurance carrier that you were using your vehicle to deliver pizzas or for other job-related duties and get into an accident, your claim could potentially be denied for this omission. Preserving your right to benefits If you get injured while out making a delivery for your employer, it’s vital that you do all that you can to preserve your right to seek financial and other compensation. This includes notifying your employer as soon as is practical after getting into an accident. Failing to timely notify your supervisor of your accident and injuries could limit your ability to seek benefits through workers’ comp after a collision. At David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, we don’t want you to feel vulnerable during an already challenging situation. As such, we work hard to help you through the process to pursue the maximum compensation available to you. Our Wilmington workers’ compensation attorneys have built a strong reputation representing the injured in our community. When you need someone on your side, trust that we’ve got your best interests in mind every step of the way. Let us give you a voice against negligent parties and large corporations. Call our firm at 910-251-8088 today to speak with a skilled legal professional in a free consultation.

Road construction workers place their safety in the hands of drivers daily. Because these workers have such dangerous jobs already, they don’t need anything to make their time at work any more difficult. It is imperative that drivers and construction companies do what they can to reduce the risks. There are several things that might help. All of them revolve around proper training and taking the road conditions into account. Train employees Employees, even those who come from other road construction companies, should have to go through a safety orientation. This gives the company a chance to ensure that they know the safety protocol of the company. It is also a good idea to have continuing education programs to help reinforce the standards. This might not be a good option for days when the weather isn’t appropriate for regular activities. Provide proper safety equipment Safety equipment is a must at construction sites. There are a few common types to consider. Workers should wear brightly colored vests that make it easy for motorists to see them. It can also assist other workers, especially those who are operating heavy machinery, to see them while they are working. Hardhats are a good safety tool for construction workers in some cases. They are especially important for those who are working on the ground around cranes and other machines. Steel toe boots are also a good idea. Placing barriers between the workers and the moving traffic is important, but it might not be feasible in all cases. Things like water-filled barriers, concrete barriers, and guard rails are examples of what might be helpful to prevent cars from slamming into workers. Place signage to alert motorists Well in advance of the worksite, motorists need to know that there are people working ahead. Placing proper signage ahead of where employees are on the road is imperative. These might be the orange signs, but it can also include digital signs. Have a plan for injuries There is going to come a time when a construction worker will suffer an injury. There should be a plan in place for when this does happen. Ideally, someone at the site will be trained in first aid and there will be at least a basic kit to care for employees as well as possible until emergency help arrives if needed. Workers who suffer serious injuries can turn to workers’ compensation for medical care benefits. When you can’t come back to work right away, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits as well.

You might think that just because you work in an office that you aren’t at risk for suffering injuries. Unfortunately, even people who are employed in this setting can still have accidents that can lead to serious problems. Utilizing proper safety techniques can help you to remain safe while you work. One way that employers can do this is to understand some of the common accident and injury types that these workers face. Developing a comprehensive plan can benefit everyone involved. Falls are sometimes disabling Office workers who fall are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to end up with a debilitating injury than a non-office worker. Keeping the floors clear can help prevent these injuries. Any wet areas should be cleaned immediately or clearly marked. Everything on the floor, including rugs and cords, must be properly secured to prevent tripping. Workers shouldn’t use anything other than a step stool or ladder to climb on when they need to reach something high up. Objects, even stationary ones, can cause injury Running into objects, such as desks or chairs, can lead to serious injuries. Slamming your finger in a drawer or cabinet, accidents involving machines and equipment in the office, and dropping items on your feet can all lead to injuries. Using everything in the proper manner, following instructions and paying attention to where you are walking can facilitate safety. Lifting can be dangerous While you might not have to lift heavy objects, you should still remain cautious when you lift anything. This includes things like stacks of files or a box of supplies. Never lift with your back. Use your legs instead. Don’t twist when you are carrying something even moderately heavy. If you have to pick up a heavy item, get help. The duty of keeping workers safe falls on the employer. They must ensure that you have the tools, equipment, and protocol in place to help you avoid accidents. If something happens and you are hurt at work, make sure to seek medical care. Not only can this help you get the treatment process started, but it also ties the injury to the work-related situation. Workers’ compensation coverage will help to pay the medical care costs and possibly replacement wages for missed work. Certain conditions apply and there may be other benefits of the program. Understanding the application, decision, and appeal processes is important if you are dealing with a claim.

Suffering from an injury at work is something that nobody wants to deal with, especially when you are going to have to miss work while you heal. This makes life very difficult because you are having to deal with not having an income at a time when you will have some medical bills and other expenses that you usually don’t have. On top of this, your family members will probably suffer because you aren’t able to do what you usually do. This can put pressure on them, but they will know that this isn’t your fault. We know this is problematic and might make life miserable for people who are accustomed to working. When you have a work-related injury, you need to seek out workers’ compensation coverage. At a minimum, this should cover the cost of necessary medical care for the injury you suffered. If you can’t return to work right away, you might qualify for partial wage replacement benefits. This might not give you everything that you would have if you were working, but it might be enough to cover the basics and take some of the stress off you. There are specific guidelines for coverage under workers’ compensation. When you receive any correspondence regarding your case, you need to review it carefully. If you don’t agree with it, you need to review how to appeal the decision. This comes with specific procedures and very strict time limits. Make sure that you understand these. We can help you if you need to appeal the decisions that are made in your case.