Dean Foods is a food and beverage company that specializes in dairy products. As an employee of Dean Foods, if you were hurt on the job, would you be able to afford your car payment or rent? Many employees who are hurt on the job, may be left unable to work. Those employees may not have the financial stability to afford the loss of their income. Help for Hurt Workers If you are hurt during your shift at Dean Foods, you should consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. Every state has a statute in place that requires most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is provided to workers at no cost to them. Workers who are hurt or made sick during their shift and left unable to work may qualify to receive a portion of their lost wages. Company Profile: Dean Foods Dean Foods is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. They are a publicly traded corporation. They have over 100 locations in 35 states. They employ over 21,000 employees. Employees of Dean Foods Face Risks Daily Cuts: working with sharp knives and saws can cause minor to severe cuts. In cases of high-powered saws, a lost limb, hand, or fingers can be a risk. Slips and Fall: any spilled liquid like blood, chemicals used for cleaning, or water are a hazard for all employees. Injuries from a slip and fall can be minor, such as a pulled muscle, or more severe such as a broken bone, slipped disc, or even a closed head injury. Repetitive motion injuries: fast line speeds and constant repetition can cause short and long term damage to both joints and strain to muscles. In some cases, it can cause carpal tunnel as determined in a recent study. Operating Heavy Machinery: clothing, fingers, and hair can become caught in the moving parts that can cause severe injury or even death. It can cause cuts, broken bones, loss of limbs, and can cause death. There Is Help for Hurt Employees For severe injuries, call 911. You are entitled to emergency care. A police officer will complete a report. This is important because a report of the accident is necessary for your workers’ compensation claim. The report can be picked up a few days after it is taken by the officer. If you are hurt, you should consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. You may be eligible for benefits that can help you with your medical expenses. Contact your manager right away if you are hurt. Continuing to work may worsen your injury. Even minor injuries can become severe. Contact your manager and HR rep for a list of you can see without cost. You can see your own doctor, but you may have to pay for care out of your own pocket. Keep any receipts related to your medical care. You may qualify for reimbursement. Dean Foods Company V. Debra Anderson In this case, Ms. Anderson’s husband was murdered by an unknown suspect while working for Dean Foods. She filed a workers’ compensation claim upon his death. Dean Foods opposed the claim stating that the death was a result of personal differences and did not occur within the scope of his position. During the hearing, her claim was approved. In an appeal, Dean Foods challenged the court and lost. Workers’ compensation covers a variety of cases that cause on the job injuries. If you have any questions or concerns about whether you have a valid workers’ compensation claim, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Dean Foods, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
