No one wakes up in the morning with a plan to receive an on-the-job injury that stops them from working. Very few people can afford to pay their bills and take care of their family if they are unable to work. Even if you have health insurance, if you get hurt on the job, you could be left financially devastated. Workers’ Compensation Can Help You If you are hurt on the job, you should consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation insurance is a legal requirement for most employers. There is no cost to employees who need to file a claim. Workers’ compensation can help by providing assistance with medical care, prescriptions, therapies, surgeries, partial wages if you are unable to work, and job training in instances where injured workers can’t go back to their job. Company Profile: Matco Tools Matco Tools is headquartered in Stow, Ohio. They provide franchise opportunities to others who would like to own a Matco Tools store. Matco produces and sells more than 13,000 different tools. Their legal name is Matco Tools Corporation. Risks to Matco Tools Workers Workers’ compensation is in place to help workers who get hurt on the job. All jobs have risks. Each position provided by the Matco manufacturing plant or store has its own set of risks. Examples of occupationally based risk include: Workers in the manufacturing plant use dangerous machinery every day. You may get your hair, hands, arms, or other body parts caught into the moving parts. This can cause amputation, severe injuries, crushed limbs, and even death. Slip and falls are common for manufacturing workers and in Matco stores. Wet floors or slick floors can be hazardous even with the proper non-slip shoes. A slip and fall can cause you to break a bone, pull a muscle, or you can even hit your head and suffer from a traumatic brain injury. Repetitive stress injuries are common for manufacturing plant workers, warehouse workers, and retail workers. Using the same motions to operate the machinery, constantly moving boxes, and using a cash register can cause you to suffer from a repetitive stress injury in at least one of your joints. Warehouse workers who constantly move boxes and load and unload trucks are at risk of back and neck injuries that can cause chronic pain pain. Know What to Do It’s important that you know what to do if you are hurt on the job at Matco Tools. However, since many Matco Tools stores are franchises, you need to make sure that you report your injury to your supervisor in the store. If you’re hurt at a manufacturing facility, you will report your injury directly to your manager or to Human Resources. Do not continue to work if you are hurt on the job. Alert your supervisor right away. This helps protect your legal rights and can also protect your co-workers from hazards. Continuing to work can make your injury worse. If you have a medical emergency, such has hitting your head or if you crush a limb while using heavy machinery or factory machines, call 911. You are entitled to emergency care. If you do not have a medical emergency, ask your supervisor for a list of doctors who can treat you at no charge. Talk With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you are hurt during your shift at Matco Tools, you should take the time to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney. You can learn more about your rights under the law and make get the help you need to access your benefits. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Matco Tools, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
