During the first few weeks of the year, many people are still working on their resolutions for 2016, and for many workers that means going after exciting new career opportunities. Whether you’re embarking on a new job or launching a new career, however, make sure you consider workplace safety as well as all the possibilities of your new position.
Each year, workers in Hollywood and Florida suffer workplace injuries. Across the country, an average of over 9000 workers are injured each day and 12 suffer fatal injuries, according to OSHA. Every workplace is affected, from obviously hazardous workplaces such as factories, mines, and manufacturing plants, to seemingly “safer” workplaces such as libraries and offices. Any worker can be affected by serious injuries.
Common injuries on the job can include:
- Repetitive strain injury
- Illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or substances
- Slip and fall and trip and fall injuries
- Injuries caused by workplace violence
- Fractures and cuts
- Injuries caused by machines and tools
- Falls
- Head and brain injuries
- Injuries caused by heavy equipment and motor vehicle accidents
- Back injuries and spinal cord trauma
- Burns
If you are changing jobs or starting at a new workplace, your risk of injuries may be slightly higher. You may not be familiar with your work environment, so you might not know what the risks are. If the position is new, you may not have had a chance to get safety training or enough of it before you get started. The risks of your new work may be different than the hazards at your old position.
There are several things you can do to make sure your new job is safe as well as fulfilling:
- Ask about safety training. Get as much training about safety procedures as you can before you start and get any additional, voluntary training you can on your own time. If there are manuals or written instructions about safety practices at work, read them carefully. Take notes and ask questions if something isn’t clear.
- Go to the OSHA website to find out more about workplace safety. The website offers practical suggestions and can help you understand your rights as a worker.
- Read your employment agreement. Are there steps you are expected to take to stay safe? Is there safety equipment you need? If you need safety equipment for your job, make sure you use it correctly each time you’re at work.
- Identify the most common causes of injury at your job and take steps to prevent them. Be proactive. Research to find out what risks your job carries and find ways to reduce those hazards. If you sit at a desk all day, for example, there may be an ergonomic chair you can use to reduce back strain or you may be able to take stretch brakes to prevent injury. If you work at an assembly line, a specific piece of machinery may be the largest danger. Find out more about the machine and its safe operation.
Whether you’re injured at a new job or at a workplace where you’ve worked for years, contact Flaxman Law Group to get the facts about benefits, workers’ compensation, and civil claims you may have in your case. In on-the-job injuries, there may be multiple ways to secure compensation and if you’re injured and unable to work, it’s important to look carefully at all these avenues so you can protect yourself and your family. Let the professional and compassionate attorneys at Flaxman Law Group advise you and represent you if you’ve been injured and would like to pursue a claim.