Workers' Compensation funds were initially put in place to help injured workers and to protect businesses from large lawsuits that could drive them out of business. Because the health of businesses is critical to state economies, a fund was put in place to provide relief to these injured workers and to allow businesses to refer their employees to this form of relief, abdicating legal responsibility on their end.
With increased attention to these common mistakes, employers can help reduce rising Workers' Compensation costs and provide a safer environment for their employees.
Common Workers Compensation Mistakes Employers Make
Many businesses experience rising Workers' Compensation premium costs due to these common mistakes:
- lack of an adequate safety program
- lack of adequate enforcement of said safety program
- hiring unskilled workers
- believing they can skirt Workers' Compensation requirements by forcing employees into contractor roles
These common mistakes can not only contribute to rising Workers' Compensation premiums, but they can also increase work accidents. When workers are underskilled, inadequately trained, or unaware of safety procedures altogether, this can lead to work injuries that could be traumatic.
The Risk of Injury to Employees
Employees without an adequate safety program could be at risk for a variety of work injuries, including the following:
- concussions, head injuries
- back and neck injuries
- spinal cord injuries
- burns
- heart attacks, strokes
- death
If you are unaware of a safety program at your work, you should talk to your supervisor to familiarize yourself with the safety procedures. If you have been injured at work, you should not only obtain the medical care you need, but you should also call a skilled work injury attorney in order to protect your rights. A skilled work injury attorney may be able to maximize your compensation and prevent the insurance companies from potentially rejecting your claims.
