Hairdressers are exposed to particular risks in their workplace that are not common elsewhere. Some accidents can be unexpected, while others are due to the workplace environment having safety issues. Most hairdressers should be able to claim workers’ compensation if they do experience a workplace injury or suffer from some type of illness related to their job. This is because the majority of employers are required to have coverage for their employees. State laws do vary somewhat across the country but in most states, it is mandatory for employers to have workers’ comp insurance. This is designed to help pay for medical expenses related to workplace injuries or illnesses and compensate by paying a portion of any lost wages. Compensation When Injured Hairdressers Stay Away From Work Hairdressers can experience many different workplace-related injuries. This might mean they have to seek medical treatment or stay in a hospital if they are seriously injured. An injured hairdresser may not be able to return to work straight away and may claim for lost wages as part of a workers’ compensation claim. In most states, a workers’ comp settlement may pay around two-thirds of a worker’s lost wages. This may change if the period of disability lengthens. Hairdressers may work part or full time, in up-market boutique salons or more down-to-earth establishments, which means that there is a wide range of salaries for hairdressers. The average across the country is $14.23 an hour. For a full time employee, that works out to $29,600 over a full year (a figure that comes courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2016). A successful workers’ comp claim would look at the earnings that the injured hairdresser would have gotten if he or she had been able to work. Typical Hairdresser Workplace Injuries and Disability Categories Hairdressing may seem like a relatively safe occupation, but in fact, those who work in hairdressing salons can become injured or develop sicknesses just like any other workers. The injuries that can result from being a hairdresser include: prolonged exposure to the range of substances that hairdressers use in their job that may contain hazardous ingredients. That includes things like gels, shampoos, texturizers and moisturizers, dyes, conditioners, and relaxers; musculoskeletal disorders from remaining on their feet all day while using repetitive hand and arm movements. Bursitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are typical injuries. slip and fall injuries where the salon floor is untidy or because the salon environment has poor visibility; electric shock from handling faulty equipment like hair dryers or electric razors; cuts and gashes from handling sharp implements like scissors and razors. The effects of an injury aren’t always permanent. Hairdressers who have minor cuts on their hand may be compensated for a temporary partial disability benefit because they can return to work but they can only take on less strenuous tasks. When hairdressers are more severely injured, they may not come back to work for a few days or a week and may find themselves eligible for a temporary total disability payment. In this case, their injury is severe enough to keep them from working at all, but only temporarily. Permanent total disability, on the other hand, refers to a situation when employees are so badly injured that they cannot return to the same job at all. Similarly, permanent partial disability is a category in which the employee is able to return to work but is permanently disabled and must do a different job with the same employer. This condition is often less applicable to hairdressers. Evidence Can Make or Break a WC Claim Employers and insurers may not be co-operative when a workers’ comp claim is filed. Even though most states have no-fault laws that allow employees to make a claim if they were partly to blame for an injury at work, it may still be difficult to get the claim finalized. In many cases, suitable evidence is what may make or break a workers’ comp claim. If the injury originates from a specific accident in the salon, a client or another employee probably saw it happen. Witness statements that back up the fact that the accident happened, caused an injury, and happened at work all serve as important evidence. Other important components also include medical statements and reports, X-rays, and test results that are obtained whenever medical treatment takes place following an injury. Don’t forget all the bills and invoices showing how much you have had to pay and how much you might still have to pay. Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney if Your Claim Is Not Going Well An experienced workers’ comp attorney can help you through the paperwork and procedure that accompanies a workers’ compensation claim. The attorney can also help you if you have hit a brick wall with regard to your claim. Perhaps you have found that your employer is uninsured or the insurance company has denied your claim. These are all good reasons for seeking legal advice.
