More Than 20 Years Of Experience Standing Up For Minnesota Workers

New workers may be at a higher risk of injury

On Behalf of | Nov 3, 2017 | Workers' Compensation |

Workers in Minnesota and around the country may have a higher risk of getting hurt during their first month on the job. According to the Institute for Work & Health, their risk for a lost-time injury is three times greater than for someone who has been on the job for more than a year. For some who are just starting a job, they may be performing tasks that they have little prior experience with.

They may also be unsure of their rights when it comes to doing hazardous jobs. It is also possible that a new worker doesn’t fully understand the risk of doing a job or may underestimate the risk that he or she is encountering. Workers may not understand the risks that they face because of issues with training. According to a 2007 survey, only 20 percent of Canadian workers received safety training.

Seasonal workers tend to be new employees or those who are working on short-term contracts. Construction workers also tend to work on job sites for a short period of time before moving on. This may present issues with communication that can result in a higher risk of injury. New workers who are older may be more susceptible to getting hurt, and this may be especially true in physically demanding jobs such as construction.

Those who are injured on the job may be unable to work either on a temporary or permanent basis. While out of work, they may be entitled to compensation to help pay their medical costs as well as to replace a portion of their lost income. In some cases, an application for workers’ compensation benefits may be only partially approved or denied entirely. An attorney may be able to help a worker during the appeal process.

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