Workers are injured on the job every single day. Despite all the safety protocol and regulations, people get hurt while working. Farming is one of the more dangerous professions, so agricultural workers can suffer life-altering injuries at any time. If you have been hurt on the job, you might be eligible to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits. Workers' comp includes medical benefits and covers part of your lost wages while you are unable to work. The United Farm Workers of America United Farm Workers of America, which is known as United Farm Workers (UFW) is a farm worker labor union that resulted from two organizations merging, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and the National Farm Workers Association. The two merged in 1966 and joined UFW that was founded in 1962. As of 2013, the union had about 10,300 members. Offices for the union are located in Keene, California. The union is affiliated with the Change to Win Foundation. Common Workplace Injuries Agricultural workers are subjected to many hazards. As an example, a tractor can overturn and break multiple bones or cause paralysis. Farm equipment can sever fingers or crush limbs. A fall might lead to a broken back or serious neck injury. Falling objects can strike the head and result in traumatic brain injury. Farm workers are around pesticides and fertilizer, which can lead to chemical burns that are damaging to the skin. You could also end up with breathing problems and lung disease after long-term exposure. Exploding batteries or electrical equipment can cause burns or shocks. Many injuries result in long-term disabilities and permanent scars. What To Do If You Have Been Hurt On The Job If you have been hurt on the job, be sure to follow proper procedure to protect your rights and preserve evidence that supports your claim. Here are a few tips: Notify your manager or supervisor immediately of any accident and tell him or her about any injuries that resulted. Provide details to your employer so an accident report can be completed. Get a copy of this report to support your claim. If 911 is called, get a copy of the report completed by the police. Go to the nearest emergency room or to one of the physicians on the approved list to get checked out. Any injuries should get immediate attention. Even if you don't think the injuries are serious, you should get checked out. Contact your United Farm Workers of America representative and tell her or him about your injury and the accident. Schedule a consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer. Protect Your Legal Rights If you have been hurt while working, do everything that you can to ensure your rights are protected and that all evidence has been preserved. Don't risk signing away your rights to the insurance company. Always consult with your United Farm Workers of America representative and a workers' comp attorney before getting your claim underway. Don't risk losing any benefits that you are entitled to receive. More About Workers' Comp for Agricultural Workers If you've been injured while performing agricultural work, you may have questions about the nature of your injuries and how it would affect a claim, and what your state's laws on workers' compensation would be. You can find more information about those here: I Got Hurt Operating a Machine at Work. What Do I Do? Workers' Compensation By State *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.
