by Bernard D. Nomberg, Partner, The Nomberg Law Firm
As college players recently got picked in the 2017 NFL draft, they likely acknowledge the hard times ahead. While we love football, we recognize, like the players, they play a violent game where injury is almost guaranteed. Likewise, when an employee enters a profession, they likely understand the risks of their job. While an injury is possible in any type of job, there’s no denying that some jobs have higher risks of injury than others. For those working in a high risk job, it is important to know your workers’ compensation rights and understand that every employee is entitled to workers’ compensation if injured on the job, no matter the risk.
High risk jobs include: construction workers, lodging workers, airplane pilots, farmers, mining machine operators, roofers, sanitation workers, truck drivers and delivery workers, industrial machine workers, police officers and those in the fishing industry.
The reason these jobs are at a higher risk is due to the devastating impact an injury can have. Machine malfunctioning is more likely to end a career than another type of injury that may only cause temporary disability.
Workplace injury statistics indicate construction accidents are the most common cause of workplace injuries in the U.S.[1] Despite rigorous safety protocols, carelessness, even a small amount, can lead to devastating injuries. Many construction accidents result in serious injuries or even permanent disability; therefore workers’ compensation benefits prove extremely important for an injured construction employee.
An employer should educate and train on proper safety procedures in order to reduce the risks in high risk jobs. It is important, not only to employees, but to an employer as well to ensure there are as few accidents as possible. An employer with a high rate of accidents generally must pay a higher workers’ compensation premium. By ensuring that employees are as safe as possible, workplace accidents can be greatly diminished to the benefit of both the employer and the employees.
If you are employed in a high risk job, be careful. Work smart. If you become injured at work, report the accident to your supervisor and seek medical treatment. If you have questions about workers’ compensation benefits, please call us.
[1] https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats
Bernard D. Nomberg has practiced workers’ compensation law in Alabama for more than 20 years. Bernard has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer-review rating. He has been selected a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine as well as a Top Rated Attorney by B-Metro Magazine.