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(314) 500-HURTWhether you’re standing on your feet for hours in a retail or restaurant job or you’re regularly lifting heavy objects
in a warehouse or construction job, there are a number of ways that the average employee can face serious injury at
work. And although the United States has a number of labor laws that are supposed to resolve workplace safety issues,
not all employers follow these regulations. Minor and major injuries — and even tragedy — can result when safety
guidelines in the workplace aren’t fully enacted.
However, workers themselves can learn how to avoid workplace
injuries, and they also have other resources in case they are injured, such as personal
injury attorneys. If you’re looking for some guidance on how to avoid injuries in the workplace, check out these
helpful tips:
1. Make sure you’re clear on your job description.
When you are first hired, your human resources department should let you know about your job duties. While these include
your day to day tasks, they should also have information about the risks you may face on the job. This includes whether
you will have to do any heavy lifting or how many hours per day you may be on your feet. If these guidelines are
unclear, ask your boss.
2. Find out about reasonable accommodations you may be entitled to.
If you are unable to meet some or all of the physical requirements of your job due to a health condition or disability,
your employer may be able to provide you with reasonable accommodations. For example, this may include giving a cashier
who has back problems a chair or stool rather than forcing that worker to stand. If you are pregnant and working in the
United States, you are also protected under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which was passed in 1978.
3. Be aware of your working conditions at all times.
Whether or not your employer has given you a safety briefing for your job, you should be able to recognize situations
that may be unsafe. If you’re ever unsure of something, you can ask your employer. For example, if you work in retail,
then your store should have adequate safety procedures in place for events like Black Friday. Each year, Black Friday —
the big shopping day after Thanksgiving — becomes more and more dangerous as crowds head out to malls and large retail
stores. In fact, in 2015, there was one death and fifteen injuries, both of shoppers and workers. Make sure that you
know how to avoid injuries in the workplace at all times, and ask your employer if something is unclear or could be
dangerous.
4. Know what to do if you are injured.
In the event that you are injured on the job, you may be entitled to compensation. First, however, you would need to
file a claim for worker’s compensation. Once you file your claim, your employer has 30 days to file a response to your
claim; if no answer is filed, then the facts of the claim are deemed admitted. Be sure to speak with a workers’
compensation attorney if you have any questions about this process.
Don’t gamble on your safety in the workplace. If you see something that looks hazardous, bring it to
your employer’s attention — before it’s too late for you or someone else.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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