There are quite a few categories of injuries that can occur in the workplace that may lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but one category that doesn’t get as much attention is contact injuries. These incredibly common injuries happen in a wide variety of professions and despite the fact that they are slightly lesser known, they can be quite serious.
Workers in all professions may experience a contact injury when they are involved in incidents that occur in the daily functions of their jobs. These contact injuries can lead to cuts, burns, bruises, strains and even broken bones, in very severe cases. The severity of the injury is ultimately determined by the amount of exposure a work has to a particular situation.
Some of the types of contact injuries that occur regularly in workplaces all over the state include, but are not limited to the following;
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Cuts and scrapes from sharp objects. You may be able to list off the top of your head a number of careers that involve working with sharp objects. Those who work in a kitchen or a wood shop or on power lines and honestly anyplace in between could come in contact with a sharp object. The severity of the injury will ultimately be determined by the amount of contact one has with the sharp object that she/he is using on the job.
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Burns. There are a variety of types of burns that could occur at a workplace. One of the more common places that burns do occur is in the kitchen of a restaurant where workers are interacting with hot stove tops and ingredients all day and night. However, restaurant workers are not the only workers that are susceptible to these types of injuries, in fact chemical burns are also quite common and can be severe in nature as well.
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Eye injuries. When your eyes come in contact with flying debris or other flying objects they can become severely damaged and require medical attention. Those who are in the construction industry are often subjected to this type of contact injury, but as is the case with all of these injuries there is a wide variety of professions that could put you in a position to become hurt.
While not all injuries are preventable, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are protected while you’re at work. You will want to follow all safety protocols that are put forth by your employer and read any safety documentation put forth by equipment manufacturers. Additionally you will want to wear the right protective gear that can keep you safe from these types of contact injuries. Safety goggles, hard hats and heat resistant gloves may all be needed to keep you safe.
As with any type of injury, contact injuries should be reported immediately to your supervisor at work to start the process of filing a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. In the event that you are unable to notify your supervisor immediately due to the severity of the injury you should notify your supervisor as soon as you are medically able to do so.
If you’re injured on the job and you believe you are in need of assistance in filing your claim you may need to speak with a board certified attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
