There is something extremely exciting about starting a new job. Hopefully you’re starting a job that you have been trying to get for a while and you’re ready to take on a new challenge. There are also nerves that come with a new job and can put you in a situation where you might be at risk of getting injured. Injuries that occur as the result of a new job may not be anyone’s fault, but they may put you in a situation where you may miss time at work and have to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
When you start a new job, before you dive right into all of the day to day duties you will be performing you should make sure that you have a clear understanding of all of the safety protocols that are required for the job. If you are starting work for a big company you may be required to go through certain safety training and in some cases you may be required to pass safety training and testing before you can begin work. This may not be the case though if you are working for a smaller company who may just plug you into your role at your new job with little or no training at all.
After the initial excitement of starting the new job and the safety training you may need to participate in to get ready to perform the duties of your job it will likely be time to begin in your new role. When you are ready to start the actual day to day duties of your job you should spend your first few days and weeks following some of the steps below to make sure you are not putting yourself at risk of getting injured.
-
Observe your co-workers. One of the best ways to learn how to do a job is to observe someone who has already been performing the tasks that are the same or similar to the ones you will be performing. You may want to ask your supervisor to pair you with an experienced co-worker who is highly regarded for following safety guidelines so you can glean good habits from her/him.
-
Make sure you are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE.) This will be different for every job so it is impossible to list exactly which equipment you should be using for your role, but things like helmets and face masks are among the category of PPE that may be required at your job to help keep you protected from getting injured while at your new job.
-
Pay close attention to the signs your body is giving you. When you’re starting a new job, especially one that requires physical or manual labor you may start using muscles that you normally wouldn’t be using. This could strain your muscles and leave you in a situation where you do not have the strength to perform the duties of the job. If your body is telling you that you’re not ready or it is too stressed to perform the task at hand you should speak with your supervisor and make sure you ease into your new role.
A new job can be equal parts exciting and equal parts challenging, but if you take the important steps of learning safety procedures and working closely with others while utilizing the proper safety gear you will be putting yourself in a good situation to avoid getting injured and having to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim in your first few days on the job.
Even if you do everything right you may not be able to completely avoid getting injured on the job. If this does happen to you, you may need to speak with a board certified workers’ compensation attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to help protect your long-term interests.
