The occupation of plumbing is a practical skill that not only pays well, but requires a high level of mechanical expertise. It would be difficult to imagine a world without indoor plumbing; amenities such as toilets, showers, sinks, and more. Try imagining your life minus the porcelain throne. Pretty frightening, isn’t it? Plumbing has occupational hazards unique to the field. If you’re a plumber and you fall victim to these hazards, what would happen to your family? Would your family be able to pay the rent and put food on the table? Do you have any money saved for a rainy day? For many people, an on the job injury or sickness can be a financial disaster. However, there is help. For plumbers injured on the job, most employers are required by state law to provide workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance does not come out of the pockets of the hard-working plumber. The insurance is provided by employers at no cost to you. How Does Workers’ Comp Help Plumbers? Workers’ compensation helps plumbers who are hurt on the job or develop a sickness due to their working environment. When you file a claim, you get help with your medical bills, prescriptions, and other services or things that you need to help you get better. In addition, it also provides for a portion of your wages. Workers’ compensation is a safety net. Special Risks to Plumbers Plumbers face a number of unique occupational hazards. If you’re working on sink piping, it’s a very real possibility that you could inadvertently bang your head on a pipe and suffer from a concussion. If your client needs you to crawl underneath the house, you could accidentally cut yourself on jagged metal. Sticking your arm down a garbage disposal to fix it is a task with hazards all too apparent. Imagine that you’re hauling equipment or components and accidentally throw out your back, twist your ankle, or hurt your neck. What if you’re driving to a job and get into a wreck? The risks faced by plumbers are all too real. Hurt or Sick? Follow These Steps Regardless of the circumstances of your injury, you are entitled to receive aid from workers’ compensation. Fault is irrelevant. Workers’ compensation is a right. You should follow these steps to acquire the help you need: Immediately inform your supervisor of the incident that caused your injury. You should not wait until your shift is over or you’re done unclogging the sink. You must inform your employer. This protects your legal rights. This is a key component to filing your workers’ compensation claim. Write an accident report; the sooner, the better. If you write up a report closer to the time of the injury, the details will be clearer in your memory than if you decide to wait. If your injury is severe—such as blacking out thanks to your head hitting a pipe—do not hesitate to call 911. You should also procure a report number from the responding officer. You can get a copy from the police station. Seek medical attention. Don’t delay. If you have injured your back, hit your head, or are bleeding, call 911. If the injury is minor, such as a sprained wrist from the repeated use of hand tools, you should visit the doctor listed on the workers’ comp policy. Using that doctor means that there will be no out-of-pocket cost to you. You can see your own doctor—however, this means paying with your own money or insurance. Keep any and all receipts related to any money you spent as a result of your injury or sickness. Schedule an appointment with a workers’ comp attorney. Even if the company that hired you seems supportive at first, their insurance company will try to settle your claim for as little as possible. Don’t talk to the adjustor on your own; a workers’ comp attorney can assist you in getting the compensation that you rightfully deserve. Protect Yourself If you are sick or injured as a plumber, you may need the legal expertise of a qualified workers’ comp attorney to protect yourself and your family. Speak with a workers’ compensation attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
