Workers’ compensation is a kind of special insurance that employers have to cover their employees in the event that they are hurt on the job. This insurance offers medical benefits to cover the cost of treatment for the injury and it also covers a portion of the wages that are lost by the employee because of the time that must be taken off from work to recuperate. These benefits may also cover the cost of vocational training if the employee must be trained to do a different kind of job after recovering. There may be benefits available for permanent injuries, disabilities, or death from the injury as well. State legislators set their own regulations regarding workers’ comp and oversee the requirements for employers in their state. Company Profile: American Seafoods Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington state, American Seafoods Company is one of the largest seafood companies in North America and is one of the largest fish harvesters in the world. The company involves fishing, then processing the catches, and the logistics of transporting them to retailers around the country. The company currently has more than 1,000 employees working around the clock to provide seafood products around the globe. The company has several different positions: Oilers Processors Fishermen Cooks Engineers Electricians Buyers and Sourcing Agents Transportation professionals Injuries American Seafoods Employees Can Suffer If you work for American Seafoods, there is always a chance that you can be hurt during the work day. If you are a cook, you could be burned from the stoves, grills, or hot grease and suffer painful and serious injuries that require extensive hospitalizations and reconstructive surgery. If you work on a ship, you could slip on the deck, hitting your head and suffering a brain injury or spinal injury. Electricians could be electrocuted or suffer severe burns on the job because of shorts, faulty wiring, or bad equipment. Processors may be cut by the knives as the seafood is cut, sorted, and packaged for shipment. Buying agents and sourcing agents may suffer the repetitive trauma that causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Any employee in any position can be hurt while at work. Consult With A Workers’ Comp Attorney If you are hurt while on the job, you should immediately notify your supervisor to make sure a report is completed and seek medical assistance. Make sure you give a detailed account of what happened and that the supervisor is aware of any witnesses to the accident. You should consult with a lawyer as quickly as possible to make sure your rights are protected and your claim is properly filed. Your lawyer will handle the negotiations with the insurance adjuster, making sure they understand the severity of your injuries, the expected care needed to recover, and how long you will be off from work. They will also determine if you need any compensation for retraining or if you are going to suffer permanent disabilities because of the incident. Without an attorney, you could lose the benefits you deserve. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against American Seafoods, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
