It was an unusual situation when a worker who was working to repair the Washington Bridge in Stratford fell through a hole in the bridge, 50-feet below to a construction barge that was under the bridge. The worker who was injured on the job will likely miss time from work and be able to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim for the injuries that she suffered.
This seemingly freak accident is unfortunately not as uncommon as you might think and so it is important to keep in mind the safety procedures that are necessary to avoid such accidents. Falls are consistently among the most common injuries that happen at work and if you’re in a field where falls are possible, you need to make sure you are aware of the safety protocols that your company has in place for you to protect yourself.
The first and most important step is to check to see what safety protocols your company has in place. There may be training that you have to go through that will teach you how to be safe while on the job. You may need to have special protective equipment that you need to use while working on specific types of jobs. There may be requirements for hours of on-the-job apprenticeships that you need to fulfill before jumping into the deep end on the job that is dangerous. All of these elements go into keeping you safe while on the job and there is a good possibility that your company already has some of these protocols in place.
Once you have a clear understanding of the protocols that are in place you will want to do your best to be following them at all times. If you stray from the protocols you could be putting yourself at risk of safety issues that could lead to an injury or death. Especially if you are a new employee or are going to work in a new environment you will want to make sure you double and triple check your safety protocols before you start out in the role that you are working on.
One other note, if you are new to a company or to a particular role inside the company you may need to ask a lot of questions about safety. Don’t shy away from any questions that you may have. A question, no matter how simple it may seem, can keep you safe while working on a dangerous job that might put you in a situation where you could fall from high up and injure yourself. It can be a little intimidating to ask a question or two, but if you don’t ask the questions you won’t know how to keep yourself safe. Remember, the people you are asking were once new to the job too so they had to learn just like you do as well.
Whether you’re working on a unique job site like a bridge where you could fall to the water (or a barge) below or you’re climbing a ladder doing some painting, or anything in between, you need to know how to keep yourself safe and secure in the role you’re performing. If you don’t know how to keep yourself safe you may find yourself getting injured and having to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim and having to be away from work for some time.
Injuries at your workplace do happen and sometimes filing a claim can be confusing and hard to get through so you may need some assistance. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
