Worcester Workers' Compensation
In July 2014, there were 299,500 workers in the civilian labor force in Worcester, MA. The majority of workers were employed in the trade transportation and utilities sector; in manufacturing or in white-collar professions providing business services. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, more than 23,400 people found work in the manufacturing sector, and 9,300 employees worked in construction in the area.
Construction and manufacturing are some of the most dangerous professions for workers, according to BLS data on workplace deaths. In 2012 alone, 304 workers lost their lives nationwide while working in the manufacturing sector, and another 796 construction workers were killed on-the-job. However, employees in any profession or field may suffer workplace injuries. A workers’ compensation attorney at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can provide assistance to victims injured at work as well as to surviving family members of those who have been killed on the job. Call today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Worcester Employees at Risk of InjuriesWorcester is the second largest city in New England, with a population of 181,045. The city is in Worcester County and is bordered by smaller towns of Auburn, Milford, Ashland, Spencer and Clinton. Although settled in 1673, original settlers of Worcester were forced to leave when their homes were burned in 1675 during King Phillip’s war. The area was resettled in 1722 and subsequently incorporated as a city in 1848. It has continued to flourish and is now a hub of productivity.
Employers within Worcester must abide by workplace safety standards and ensure a safe environment for workers. In recent years, many Worcester, MA employers have failed to live up to their obligations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited employers for:
- Failure to provide required protections for employees working in trenches.
- Exposing workers to lead in the workplace.
- Unguarded conveyor belts that left workers at risk of pinch injuries.
These are just a few of many examples of Worcester employers failing workers by not following safety rules established under federal law.
Worcester Employees Have Legal RightsWorkers’ compensation laws exist to provide broad protection to employees on the job. While OSHA fines and citations are issued only to employers that fail to live up to safety regulations, workers are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of whether their employers followed the rules or behaved negligently.
Workers should report their injuries to their employer to start the claim process. Employers should promptly submit a report of the injury to their workers’ compensation insurer, who is responsible for paying benefits to workers, including:
Any worker harmed on the job should receive these benefits. If there is a dispute regarding eligibility for benefits or if the employer or insurer tries to stop your benefits, a conciliation will be scheduled to attempt to reach a voluntary agreement on the benefits you should receive.
Workers may also submit an Employee Claim - Form 110 to the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) in order to have a Conciliation scheduled. The voluntary meeting will be held at the DIA office close to your home. The DIA offices in the Worcester region have jurisdiction over workplace injury claims when employers live in areas including:
- Dudley
- Hardwick
- Warren
- Charlton
- Oxford
- Uxbridge
- Grafton
- Princeton
- Sterling
- Bolton
A workers’ compensation attorney in Worcester can provide representation to injured workers when making a claim, when appealing a denied claim, or when benefits disputes arise.
Schedule your free consultation with a Worcester workers’ compensation lawyer at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers. Call (617) 777-7777 or contact us online.