Carpenters build beautiful cabinetry, custom furniture, and more. They are often hired by construction companies to provide the custom look that their new homeowners want. They provide the little accents in our homes that help us enjoy a wonderful living space. It’s a job that is often rewarding both in creativity and monetarily. If you’re a carpenter, think about what you would do if you were injured on the job. Would your car payment go through your bank account? Would you be able to buy groceries and pay your utility bills? Unfortunately, your monthly bills don’t stop because you can’t work. Thankfully, each state has a law that requires most employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance. This helps carpenters who are hurt at work be able to pay their bills and get the medical care that they need. Workers’ Compensation Basics Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance that most businesses are required by law to carry. This isn’t a form of insurance that workers have taken out of their check. It’s something that is provided to protect and help you. If you are hurt while working as a carpenter, workers’ comp will cover your medical expenses (such as visits to the doctor and prescriptions) and it can also help you pay your bills, even if you are able to return to work. Risks for Carpenters Carpenters face risk each and every day that they are on the job. Lifting and carrying heavy cabinets that shouldn’t be carried by just one person, trying to carry more than you should, or having wooden cabinets fall on you are all ways that you could suffer a severe injury to your neck and back. Using tools such as a nail gun can also cause injury. You could accidentally put a nail through your hand or your nail gun could have a mechanical problem that could cause you to get injured. Wet or slick surfaces can cause you to slip and fall even if you wear the appropriate work boots. No double about it, working as a carpenter can be very dangerous. This is why you should understand how workers’ compensation can protect you if you are injured on the job. What to Do if You’re Hurt on the Job If you’re injured while working as a carpenter, here are the four steps you should take: Immediately after the injury occurs, you should tell your supervisor. You should do this even if you slip on saw dust and don’t really feel like you’re hurt. This helps protect your rights and it can also protect your coworkers. The saw dust can be cleaned up to keep other people from slipping. If you’re injured because of a tool, such as a nail gun or a table saw, these items can be secured by management to stop further injuries. An accident report should be filled out as soon as possible. This will help accurately record what happened. As a carpenter employed by a construction company, you should ask for the name of your work safety representative. This protects you and the other carpenters on the job. Seek medical help as soon as you can. If you’re bleeding or if you think you have a broken bone because of an accident involving your tools, please go straight to the emergency room. Call 911 and have an ambulance come to your job site. Infections can set in and cause even more problems than the initial injury. Workers’ compensation insurance policies also list a doctor that you can see at no charge to you. If you pay out of pocket for anything that is related to your injury, keep your receipt. You may qualify for reimbursement. Call an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. The construction company and their workers’ compensation insurance carrier shouldn’t be trusted to look out for your best interests. Their goal is to minimize the expenses. You need someone whose job it is to protect you and see that you get the care that you need. Protect Your Rights Regardless of whether you’re burned by a heater in your workspace, injured because of a fall, hurt your elbow or other joints, or have other injuries caused by your work as a carpenter, you need an attorney on your side. You can get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries. Contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to have your case evaluated if you are injured on the job.
