If you are out and about in the work-a-day world, it doesn’t much matter what kind of job you hold. You run the risk of injury. There are some jobs in Pennsylvania that may represent a higher risk of workplace accident and injury.
Regardless, when they happen, workers’ compensation insurance — required for all employers — is intended to ensure that a worker has the chance to fully recover without suffering undue loss of wages or incurring insurmountable health care costs. It’s crucial when accidents do happen that the injured worker, and perhaps their family, understands the complete measure of benefits available.
That’s hopefully a step being taken by a man who wound up in the hospital recently when a large section of steel fell on him. Officials in the town of Wellersburg, Pennsylvania, say the man was a wind turbine contractor working on a wind farm when a stack of 8-by-8-foot pieces of steel toppled over on him.
How it happened is not clear, but officials say the man suffered severe trauma to his face and to his chest, prompting the decision to rush him to an area hospital. At the time this post is being written, there’s no word on the full extent of his injuries or his condition. There’s also no apparent word about whether officials are investigating the matter to determine exactly what happened.
As has been noted, state and federal law requires workers’ compensation coverage for every employee. In this instance, the worker who was hurt was a contractor. He may have been an independent contractor working just for himself, but it doesn’t matter. Coverage is still required.
Source: Daily American, “Wind turbine worker injured near Wellersburg,” Alyssa Choinier, Nov. 20, 2012
- The discussion of this blog is around topics and issues that our firm handles. We invite readers to learn more about our practice by visiting our Bucks County workers’ compensation page.