TT&S Weekly (7/26/21)
Topic of the Week What To Do If You're Injured At Work
If you are injured at work, it is best to immediately inform your supervisor and begin the the process towards you receiving workers' compensation benefits. It is important to keep copies of all forms for your records and to act quickly to prevent a delay in receiving your compensation.
1. What should I do if I am injured at work?
The most important thing for employees to know is that any time you are injured on the job, you should report the injury immediately to a supervisor. Some states require that notice to the employer be made in writing, while others allow a verbal notice. However, to be safe, employees should report all on-the-job injuries to supervisory personnel in writing.
2. What if my employer does not have workers' compensation insurance?
Other than a few exceptions, such as agricultural employees, domestic employees, and independent contractors, employers are required by law to have workers' compensation insurance. If your employer claims that they do not have workers' compensation insurance, contact an attorney as soon as possible or call your State's labor department or workers compensation office, which can found on our site's state government agencies page.
3. Do I need a lawyer?
Your need for a lawyer depends on the complexity of your case. If you are not sure you understand any part of your case, be sure to contact a local workers' compensation lawyer. If you stand before an administrative or court judge you should hire a lawyer to represent you.
Thought of the Week
"[When employees are injured], these are costs that are borne by society as a whole. The worker suffers in terms of pain and medical bills and lost wages. Employers suffer lost productivity, retraining costs, hiring costs. "
–Alvin Chang + Aliya Uteuova | The Guardian
Weekly Comic by Jerry King
Blog of the Week
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List of the Week
from AFL-CIO | America's Unions
Work injury statistics from 2019 show:
1. Latino and Black workers are at greater risk for fatal injuries at work2. There's 1 OSHA inspector for every 82, 881 workers
3. 275 died each day in 2019 from hazardous work conditions