Help! I was hurt working at Publix!*

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Every state requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to help employees who get sick or hurt on the job. It pays for medical expenses related to the injury, along with providing a portion of lost wages. This insurance is there for employees as a safety net.

Company Profile: Publix Super Markets

Publix Super Markets is a chain of grocery stores headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. They have around 1,100 locations in the United States. They have around 179,000 employees. Publix hires warehouse workers, stockers, cashiers, and management professionals.

Potential Hazards On The Job

It takes a lot of people to run Publix. There are unique risks to each position. The risks a Publix employee faces can vary depending on their job.

  • Publix Super Market drivers may be involved in a wreck. They also face many of the same risks as stockers and stock room employees.
  • Store associates could slip and fall because of a wet floor caused by a broken jar of spaghetti sauce or even waxing the floor. Lifting heavy objects for customers may result in injuries to the neck, back, and other soft tissues. Cashiers could suffer from repetitive stress injury because of repeating the same small motion for hours each and every day.
  • Stockers and stock room employees face potential injuries from lifting and moving heavy boxes, working with faulty equipment, and things such as broken glass from damaged goods.
  • Employees who work in the bakery and deli could suffer from burns to the skin or injury from kitchen equipment such as industrial mixers or meat slicing equipment.

Hurt on the Job at Publix? Follow These Steps

Regardless of what you do for Publix you should immediately stop what you are doing and let your supervisor know about your injury. If are a driver and have an accident, you should call 911. If you are seriously hurt because of a cut from butcher equipment or a burn from an oven, you should call 911.

You shouldn’t wait until you are finished with your shift. Injuries such as slip and falls also pose a risk to your coworkers. Once your supervisor is made aware of the risk, it can be dealt with so that your coworkers are protected.

Here are the following steps you should take if you get hurt while working at Publix:

  • Complete an accident report as soon as possible: Filling out the report while the incident is fresh on your mind will help you to not forget anything that led up to your injury. If you have contacted 911, the responding officer will write a report. You can get a copy of it from the police station.
  • Seek immediate medical attention: Things like sprains or repetitive stress injury can often wait for an open appointment. However, if you’ve hit your head or hurt your back, you should get immediate medical attention. These types of injuries can be extremely serious. Continuing to work can make your injury worse.
  • Speak with your OSHA or HR rep: You can use them to prepare your claim against Publix and to get help making an appointment. Often, workers’ comp doctors will not charge you for the visit if it is recommended by your employer. If you want to see your own doctor, you will most likely have to pay out of pocket. Keep your medical receipts so that you may be reimbursed by workers’ comp.

You should book a consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney. This is an important step in protecting the rights you have under workers’ compensation laws.

Protect Your Legal Rights

If you have been hurt on the job at Publix Super Market, you should know that you have legal rights. You should contact a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you can after your injury to protect yourself and your legal rights.

*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Publix, you may not be entitled to any compensation.

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