How Workers’ Compensation Benefits Work
Most workers spend at least eight hours on the job each day. Several spend more hours than that and they may even work six days a week, putting themselves at greater risk of injury. This article will explain how workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help workers.
The Modern Workplace
In these times most workers are pushed to be as efficient as possible. Sometimes the level of care that should be exercised to prevent harm to their bodies or minds is given a lower priority than productivity.
Even when workers are in a safe environment that’s governed by policies and procedures that protect them, they can become hurt on the job. Most workplaces have a benefits program in place to help workers when they are harmed while performing their duties.
Compensation for Illness
Environmental conditions are a common cause of work-related illnesses. For example, many workers exercise their duties in factories where they are affected by dust, smoke and excessive levels of heat. Sometimes workers are also harmed by toxins which may be present at relatively low levels in their environment but have a cumulative effect over time. When a worker becomes ill as a result of performing their regular duties, they are entitled to receive benefits under their workers’ compensation plan.
Injured Workers
Even while following the occupational health and safety procedures that are in place for their sector, workers can be injured on the job. Injuries to their shoulders, back or feet are fairly common.
Workers should always use the correct protective gear while lifting heavy objects or working around heavy machinery. However, accidents can happen and they may have to be rushed to hospital for medical care. Workers’ compensation insurance covers the medical expenses of workers who have been injured on the job.
Replace Wages
While workers are in the hospital recovering from surgery, they will be unable to work. When they’re released from hospital and return home, they may need to do physiotherapy.
Before they can resume their duties they may need to continue physical therapy. They may be unable to take on their full workload until they are completely healed. When they receive temporary workers compensation California residents can pay their bills, since wages are not lost.
When a worker is injured on the job, their lost wages will be replaced. These and other benefits help workers to have peace of mind, even when they’ve sustained an injury or become ill as a result of workplace conditions.