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Spanish Workers in any industry face dangers that can lead to serious injury or death. Occupational health advocacy starts with understanding your rights. You have rights if you were hurt in a work accident, injured because of repetitive motions at work, or suffered medical conditions because of chemical or biological hazards. You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation could cover your medical bills and lost income.
The Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyers at KJT Law Group can fight for the compensation you deserve. Let us handle your workers’ compensation case while you focus on healing. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
Occupational Hazards That Commonly Lead to Workers’ Compensation Claims
While some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others, a serious work injury can occur in any type of workplace. Work-related injuries can be painful and lead to huge medical bills. Work injuries can keep the injured person out of work and reduce their quality of life.
Physical Safety Hazards At Work
Employers and property owners have a legal duty to keep workplaces free of dangerous hazards. However, accidents can occur even if employers take proper safety precautions.
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of workplace injuries. Slips, trips, and falls can occur because of hazards such as:
- Slippery floors caused by spilled liquids
- Broken floor tiles, loose floorboards, and other problems that cause uneven surfaces
- Clutter in aisles or walkways
- Potholes and other parking lot defects
- Poor lighting in stairwells, parking lots, and other areas
Other types of physical safety hazards include malfunctioning equipment or machinery, faulty electrical wiring, and conditions that can cause struck-by accidents.
Chemical Hazards That Can Lead To Work Injuries
Some workers are exposed to chemicals that can be harmful to the skin, eyes, or lungs. Chemical hazards can cause burns, respiratory diseases, cancer, and other serious medical problems.
The following are some of the chemical hazards listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
- Gasoline and other substances that could lead to fire or explosion
- Corrosive or toxic chemicals that can damage eyes, lungs, and skin
- Asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride, and other materials that increase the risk of cancer
- Benzene, acetone, hydrogen sulfide, methanol, and other chemicals that can cause serious health problems
Biological Hazards That Pose a Danger To Workers
Some workers are exposed to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens that can cause diseases. Healthcare worker well-being is an especially crucial concern because of these types of hazards. Biological hazards at work include but are not limited to:
- Bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis
- Diseases transmitted from animals to humans, such as rabies and Lyme disease
- Microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, that cause infectious diseases
- Mold, dust, and particulates which can cause respiratory problems
Healthcare worker rights include the right to pursue compensation for exposure to biological hazards at a healthcare facility. The California workers’ compensation system is designed to help people who have been injured by work-related hazards, such as these.
Ergonomic Risk Factors Can Cause Repetitive Motion Injuries
Whether you work in an office environment, factory, or somewhere else, you probably use your body to perform work duties. Repetitive motion injuries or repetitive stress injuries occur when a worker repeats the same motions over and over.
Ergonomic hazards can include things like:
- Vibration
- Contact stress
- Lack of ergonomic equipment (equipment designed to meet workers’ physical needs and comfort)
- Improper lifting technique
- Ill-fitted office chairs
Physical Hazards at Work
Physical hazards can cause injuries and medical problems even if the worker does not come in direct contact with the hazard. Some examples of physical hazards at work include:
- Extreme temperatures
- Excessive noise
- Radiation
- Sunlight/ultraviolet waves
- Electric and magnetic fields
It’s possible for a worker to be exposed to all five workplace hazards even in a single shift.
Your Workers’ Compensation Rights if You Were Exposed to Workplace Hazards
If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of exposure to physical risk hazards, chemical risk hazards, biological risk hazards, safety issues, or other conditions at work, it’s important to know your rights.
You may qualify for workers’ compensation, including temporary disability or permanent disability benefits. Workers’ compensation covers your medical expenses and part of your lost wages if you can’t work because of a work injury or work-related illness.
Let a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Represent You During Your Work Injury Case
Workers’ compensation is designed to protect injured workers and ensure they have access to financial assistance in the event of a work-related accident or injury. Unfortunately, the process of recovering compensation is often complicated, frustrating, and unnecessarily difficult. Sometimes, workers’ compensation insurance companies deny and undervalue claims or employers refuse to cooperate.
It’s important to have a workers’ compensation lawyer on your side fighting for your rights if you or a loved one were hurt in a work-related incident. Your lawyer will gather evidence of your injury and the medical problems resulting from it. They will advocate for the maximum compensation possible and ensure that your rights are protected.
Los Angeles Workers Compensation Lawyers Fighting For You
The Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyers at KJT Law Group are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured people. We know how frustrating it can be to deal with a workers’ compensation case, especially when you are still healing.
Let us handle your case for you. Call (818) 507-8525 and set up a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help you.
