Workers Compensation Claim
Workers Compensation: When to File a Claim
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), almost 5,000 workers were killed in 2013. Construction sites are the most dangerous and contributed to 20 percent of fatalities. While most employees only suffer minor injuries or illnesses at work, they should still seek medical treatment and file a workers’ compensation claim. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html Acute Injuries or Illnesses
Unexpected accidents are the most common causes of workers’ compensation claims. For example, falls, slips and trips are the most common cause of workplace injuries. Being struck by or against an object is the second leading cause of injuries. Immediately after the accident, inform …show more content…
This is because the affected employee must prove that their specific injury or illness is directly linked to specific work related tasks. Still, the affected employee should immediately consult with a medical professional and file a claim. Sometimes employees will wish to avoid potential problems and simply visit their primary care doctor through their own insurance. If so, it is a good idea for the employee to request the medical documentation from past visits concerning the injury or illness.
When it comes to chronic illnesses or injuries, employers have more sway when it comes to getting a claim denied. This is because they can assert that there were contributing factors outside of work that contributed to the injury or illness. For example, if a production worker is required to move heavy materials all day and has developed serious back problems, the employer can simply assert that the worker could have been injured anytime outside of work lifting something heavy. As another example, if a worker has respiratory problems from being exposed to chemicals at work, the employer could simply cite the employee’s smoking as the cause. Therefore, an OSHA inspector or industrial hygienist may be required to interview and assess the worker and workplace
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), almost 5,000 workers were killed in 2013. Construction sites are the most dangerous and contributed to 20 percent of fatalities. While most employees only suffer minor injuries or illnesses at work, they should still seek medical treatment and file a workers’ compensation claim. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html Acute Injuries or Illnesses
Unexpected accidents are the most common causes of workers’ compensation claims. For example, falls, slips and trips are the most common cause of workplace injuries. Being struck by or against an object is the second leading cause of injuries. Immediately after the accident, inform …show more content…
This is because the affected employee must prove that their specific injury or illness is directly linked to specific work related tasks. Still, the affected employee should immediately consult with a medical professional and file a claim. Sometimes employees will wish to avoid potential problems and simply visit their primary care doctor through their own insurance. If so, it is a good idea for the employee to request the medical documentation from past visits concerning the injury or illness.
When it comes to chronic illnesses or injuries, employers have more sway when it comes to getting a claim denied. This is because they can assert that there were contributing factors outside of work that contributed to the injury or illness. For example, if a production worker is required to move heavy materials all day and has developed serious back problems, the employer can simply assert that the worker could have been injured anytime outside of work lifting something heavy. As another example, if a worker has respiratory problems from being exposed to chemicals at work, the employer could simply cite the employee’s smoking as the cause. Therefore, an OSHA inspector or industrial hygienist may be required to interview and assess the worker and workplace