2018 may be your year for new career possibilities, and you may have a new job or be looking for a new position. A new workplace can be exciting and can put you on the path to greater earnings. However, it can also pose a number of new risks. There may be new hazards in the workplace you may not have carefully considered or if you make an entire career switch, there may be perils you haven’t considered or didn’t have to face at your old job.
Job injuries are a serious concern across all industries. Construction site accidents in Hollywood are too common, but so are office injuries, and injuries in other injuries, even in industries that seem deceptively safe. Here’s how to make sure your career plans aren’t derailed this year by an unexpected injury:
- Get training. Find out if safety training is available at your job. If it’s not, consider investing in training yourself from a third party. Ongoing training can help you reduce liability if you’re a professional and can help keep you safer no matter what your job is. It also makes you more competitive and can help you land better positions.
- Read your employee manual carefully. Your employee manual may contain important safety information and other information you need to know. Be sure to read up about the claims process in case you are injured and confirm that you are covered by workers’ compensation and that you are correctly classified as an employee and not a contractor so you will get compensated in the unlikely event you are injured on the job. Knowing your rights about workers’ compensation in Hollywood before you are injured can help you if you ever do suffer an injury on the job.
- Ask lots of questions. If you notice something which seems like a hazard, ask about it. Similarly, if you’re not sure how he uses equipment or machines, ask for help. If you need help reaching a top shelf, find out where the ladder is rather than trying to climb up yourself. Learning about your workplace is a bit of a learning curve, but it is an important part of staying safe.
- Dress appropriately for work. If you need safety equipment or safety gear of any kind, wear it faithfully every time you work. Check it over carefully each day to make sure there are no signs of wear and tear and ensure your safety gear isn’t compromised. If you work in an office or other environment where no safety gear is needed, nevertheless be sure to wear clothing which allows you to more easily. Wear shoes with good treads, which can help prevent slip and fall injuries, one of the more common workplace injuries in Hollywood and across South Florida.
If you are injured in the workplace, you may have the rights to seek workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries. You may also have a legal claim against manufacturers of dangerous equipment or other liable parties. If you have been injured at work and would like to know your rights, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) or online for a free accident consultation with a Hollywood work injury attorney.