Workplace injuries may not be common but when they happen they can become very disruptive. Financially, the medical bills can be a burden and there may be worries about who pays the bills when away from work. Being a member of a professional union like PASS can certainly help ensure safety standards are upheld, but can never completely eliminate the potential for injury at work. Fortunately, workers’ compensation should be available to pay for medical treatment and a good portion of any lost earnings. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) PASS members work for two key federal agencies, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Employees who are represented by PASS ensure the safety of air travelers on commercial aircraft and systems used by national defense in the U.S. PASS members do a wide range of very sophisticated and highly trained tasks within their field. They may be involved in installing and maintaining air traffic control systems or analyzing the systems used to ensure the safety of U.S. commercial and military aviation systems. Members develop flight procedures, ensure industry compliance with FAA safety standards and monitor the overall integrity of the nation’s National Airspace System. There are 11,000 members of PASS, which has been in existence since 1977. Injuries Experienced by PASS Members The work carried out by PASS members is too varied to suggest what might be a typical injury. The nature of the injuries depends entirely on the nature of the work carried out. In most cases, employees are employed inside buildings, installing, maintaining and using sophisticated machinery and instrumentation. The most likely accidents are slip and fall or trip and fall injuries which can happen anywhere, even in a comfortable office environment. Slip, trip and fall injuries may lead to cuts, bruising, crushing, joint dislocations, bones being broken, even spinal damage or traumatic brain injury. PASS members more involved in installing equipment are potentially likely to be injured by their own equipment, especially if it is faulty. Burns, electrocution, and cuts are all potential workplace related injuries. Procedure If You Have Been Injured At Work If injured at work, you should make sure that you get medical treatment as soon as you can. If your injuries are likely to mean that you will make a claim, make sure you get copies of medical reports and any other documentation associated with treatment. Your supervisor should be informed as soon as possible and this should be followed up by an accident report. Discuss the claim procedure with your PASS representative. Contact a workers’ comp. attorney at any stage after a claim has been made. Remember that workers’ compensation is a no-fault type insurance so you do not need to prove that your employer was negligent. How an Attorney Can Help With Your Legal Rights A workers’ compensation attorney shouldn’t be necessary if all goes well with your claim, but claims are not always straightforward. An attorney can establish your legal rights to workers’ comp. and help you at any stage of a claim. Additional Resources Aircraft Mechanics and Workers' Compensation National Air Traffic Controllers Association and Workers' Comp *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.
