Many workers face the daily possibility of workplace injury. Injuries can become expensive as money has to be found to pay for medical treatment and then there are worries about lost time at work. Fortunately, most workers will find that their employer is required to have insurance cover in the form of workers’ compensation insurance. This helps to pay for economic damages and is a no-fault type of insurance. This means injured workers do not need to prove that their employer was at fault. Many workers may also belong to a trade union, association or society that can help them if they have an injury at work. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) The UBC is one of America’s largest trade unions with more than 520,000 members. It is also one of America’s oldest unions, established in 1881. The union has always been apolitical, even though its founder was avowedly a socialist. The union’s mission is to negotiate on behalf of its members, but it has an interesting and checkered history. The union was instrumental in getting the eight hour day established, although the effort to do this were huge as employers were not keen to allow their employees to have these sorts of benefits. The UBC disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO in 2001 over disagreements over policy and has attempted to form alliances with other U.S. unions. Carpenters and Joiners – Typical Injuries Carpenters and joiners face the prospect of workplace injuries every day they are at work. Typical injuries might include: injuries to hands and fingers from faulty electrical cutting shaping and grinding equipment; injuries due to inadequate safety equipment supplied; injuries due to inadequate training; back strain from lifting heavy materials; crushing injuries, mostly to the hands and fingers from large items in the workshop. Steps to Take if Injured While at Work Most carpenters and joiners who belong to the UBC would be encouraged to file a claim for compensation if injured while at work. Still, payments are not automatic and must be applied for with supporting documentation that supports the claim, especially the costs involved. Injured carpenters and joiners must inform their immediate supervisor of any accident in which they are injured. However, this must not preclude getting medical attention if the injury is serious.The business will have an official accident reporting system, such as an “accident book.” The injured worker is required to file an accident report in this book within a specific time frame. This is often several weeks (2 or 3 is a common figure), but it is in the interests of the worker to do this as soon as possible. The UBC rep. should be contacted before actually filing a claim as the rep. can provide useful assistance in procedures. A workers’ compensation attorney can also be approached to discuss legal rights and what is needed to ensure a claim is actually settled. Why Contact an Attorney An attorney is not strictly necessary but workers’ compensation claims are not always straightforward. If your claim is denied, or your payment is not as satisfactory as you expected, a workers’ comp. attorney may be necessary to help you make an appeal against the decision. Additional Resources I’m an Injured Carpenter. What Should My WC Claim be Worth? Injured On the Job as a Carpenter? *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
