Regardless of your line of work, you can suffer an injury while on the job. After all, thousands of workers are injured across the United States every year. If you are a painter, floor installer, wall coverer, glassworker, convention or trade show decorator, glazier, or work in a similar profession, you can suffer an injury that results in expensive medical bills and leaves you without a paycheck while you are recovering. Laws vary from state to state, but you should be covered by workers' compensation benefits. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades A union representing about 105,000 workers, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has members that are glassworkers, convention and trade show decorators, glaziers, painters, flooring installers, drywall finishers, HAZMAT and asbestos workers, and sign and display workers in the United States and Canada. The organization was founded in 1887 and has headquarters in Hanover, Maryland. The union was originally called the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America, the union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and North America's Building Trades Unions. Common Workplace Injuries Anyone who works faces inherent risks daily. Regardless of the safety protocol, injuries still happen. If you are a painter, you could easily be injured in a fall from a ladder or a scaffold. These falls can break bones, cause back injuries, lead to traumatic brain injuries, or cause serious lacerations. As a floor installer, you could suffer serious cuts while cutting flooring. Severed fingers and smashed hands are real possibilities when laying and cutting floors. Working around asbestos, drywall, and hazardous materials requires protective gear, but you could still suffer breathing problems and lung diseases that impact the rest of your life. Sign workers can get burned or shocked from electrical signs. These can be serious injuries that require treatment from a burn treatment center. Lengthy hospital stays can result from burns and shocks. Extended time off work might be necessary. If you suffered injuries at work, contact your International Union of Painters and Allied Trades representative for information about pursuing a workers' compensation claim. What To Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job An on the job injury is eligible for workers' compensation benefits. Do everything you can to protect your rights and preserve evidence. Here are some tips regarding what to do after a work injury: Tell your manager, supervisor, or human resources department about your accident and injury. Even injuries that don't seem significant should be reported. Seek medical care even if you don't think your injuries are serious. Some injuries are worse than they appear. Get copies of any accident reports. Your employer will file an accident report. If injuries are serious and 911 is called, the responding officer will also file an accident report. Contact your International Union of Painters and Allied Trades representative for information about filing a workers' compensation claim. Protect Your Legal Rights If you have been hurt while working, you can file a claim for workers' compensation benefits. By following the steps above, you can protect the evidence to support your claim. Don't sign any documents for the insurance company until you have talked with a workers' compensation lawyer. Be sure your attorney knows you are a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Painters and Workers' Compensation Workers' Compensation Claims by Injury *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
