Workers Compensation Lawyer Blog

Understanding Common Occupational Injuries Among Missouri Zoo Employees

March 4, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Missouri zoo employees face a variety of dangers that could result in a work-related injury.

If you work as a zookeeper, an animal handler, or in any other position caring for animals or handling day-to-day duties at a Missouri zoo, there are a wide variety of dangers that could end up causing serious injuries while you’re on the job.

Let’s discuss some of the most common occupational injuries among zoo workers and employees.

1. Bites And Crush Injuries From Animals

Animal attacks are relatively uncommon in zoos but are still a danger among zookeepers and animal handlers. In the past 26 years, there have been more than 256 animal attacks in accredited and non-accredited zoos throughout the US, and more than 33 victims died from their injuries.

The types of injuries that zoo employees face from animals include bites, cuts and lacerations, crush injuries, and even infections due to the bacteria present in the animal’s saliva or on its claws.

2. Acute Or Chronic Musculoskeletal Strains

Zoo workers must often handle animals and equipment, lift heavy objects, and engage in work that requires physical strength. Over time, this can lead to acute or chronic strains of various parts of the body, including:

Ankles
Knees
Elbows
Wrists
Shoulders
Lower back
Neck

While proper care and form while lifting heavy objects can reduce musculoskeletal strains’ risk, they continue to be a major problem. In a survey, 55% of zoo veterinarians self-reported having experienced a back strain at some point in their career.

3. Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries

Zoo workers may need to wash out animal stalls, exposing them to hazardous and slippery conditions. Employees of zoos may also trip over hoses, boxes, and various other objects during their routine duties, resulting in serious injuries like muscle strains and sprains or even broken bones and head trauma, such as a concussion.

4. Exposure To Extreme Temperatures

Depending on the situation, a Missouri Zoo worker may be required to perform their duties under extremely hot weather conditions or cold weather conditions, which could result in heatstroke in hot weather or hypothermia, frostbite, and other related conditions in extremely cold weather.

5. Allergic Reactions

Due to the wide variety of allergens present on different zoo animals, it’s not uncommon for zoo workers or animal handlers to suffer serious allergic reactions. Over time, this can cause or contribute to asthma, dermatitis (skin irritation), and other such diseases. Acute allergic reactions could even induce life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Injured On The Job At A Zoo In Missouri? Get A Case Review Today

If you’re a zoo worker and have been injured on the job, The Law Office Of James M. Hoffmann is here to help. Contact us online to get a free case review with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

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Call (314) 361-4300

Are Interns Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Missouri?

March 1, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

If you are currently working as an intern, you may wonder: what are my rights as an intern if I am injured on the job?

Internships provide valuable experience for students and young professionals and are commonly undertaken as part of secondary college education or after graduating from degree or training programs.

If you are currently working as an intern, you may wonder: what are my rights as an intern when it comes to workers’ compensation? Whether you’ve been injured on the job as an intern and you need a work injury lawyer in St. Louis, or you are just curious to learn more about the subject, you’re in the right place.

Paid Interns Are Generally Covered by Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If you are a paid intern, you are generally considered an employee. That means you are generally eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, even if you’re working as a temporary intern for a summer.

If you receive wages, room, board, or any other type of compensation, and your employer directly controls your duties and work schedule, you will usually be considered an employee. If you are injured or develop a health condition on the job due to your working environment or an accident, you are fully within your rights to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Unpaid Interns Are Sometimes (but Not Always) Covered by Workers’ Compensation

So, what if you are an intern, but you are not getting paid for your work? Are you considered to be an employee or a volunteer?

The situation is much less clear-cut for unpaid interns. However, just because you’re not getting paid a wage or other compensation like room and board doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t file for worker’s compensation.

For example, if you are getting “paid” in credits at your university and these credits may be considered as “wages,” and you may qualify for workers’ compensation if you’re injured on the job.

There are other considerations to keep in mind, too. If your employer controls your schedule and duties directly, you may be considered an employee even if you’re not getting paid – and you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured on the job.

However, if you are classified as a “volunteer,” you are generally not considered an employee. If this is the case, you generally will not have any right to workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured on the job. It may be helpful to look at your employment contract before signing up for an unpaid internship to see if you are considered a volunteer.

Injured as an Intern in Missouri? Contact a Work Injury Attorney Today!

A St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer at The Law Office Of James M. Hoffmann can help you get the compensation you deserve if you’re injured as a paid or unpaid intern in Missouri.
If you have experienced any injury related to your job duties as an intern, our work injury attorneys are here to help.

Though we have discussed some general guidelines, it is important to understand that it is best to discuss the details of your injury with an experienced attorney because each case is unique. Contact us today for a FREE case evaluation.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300

What Is the Leading Cause of Death in the Workplace?

February 25, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

It’s why it’s essential that employees continuously remain aware of their surroundings, ensuring that they take the proper precautions at all times.

For nearly 50 years, OSHA has been providing employers, health and safety professionals, and other spokespeople the means of creating a safe and functional workplace. As a result, injury and death rates in the workplace have tremendously decreased. Sadly, injuries and some fatalities occur each day. OSHA reports indicate that there are 12 work-related fatalities every day throughout the U.S.

There are four common workplace accidents, according to OSHA, that lead to fatal work injuries. Unfortunately, a large percentage of these fatalities involve workers in the construction industry.

The Fatal Four

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,333 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2019. This was a 2% increase over the previous year. It’s not surprising that a large percentage of these fatalities involved workers in the construction industry as there are so many potential hazards on construction sites.

However, of all the possible risks, there are four types of accidents that result in workplace fatalities. Construction workers work in and around hazardous situations all the time. But these situations arise in many other industries. The “fatal four,” as they are often referred to, include:

Falls
Caught-In or Caught-Between
Struck-By
Electrocution

Falls – It’s estimated that 36% of all fatal workplace accidents occurred due to employees falling. This includes workers who have fallen off roofs, ladders, scaffolding, large skyscrapers, and others.
Caught-In or Caught-Between – OSHA defines injuries resulting from a person being caught, squeezed, crushed, pinched, or compressed between two or more objects or between parts of an object.
Struck by an Object – An estimated 10% of work-related deaths occurred due to a worker being struck by falling, swinging, or misplaced objects.
Electrocutions – Approximately 8.6% of employees die as a result of electrocution. This is a serious risk on construction sites because of exposed wiring, wet conditions while outlets are exposed, or not properly grounded.

Although OSHA strictly regulates the health and safety standards in all workplaces, on-the-job fatalities and safety issues remain a constant concern, especially in the construction industry. It’s why it’s essential that employees continuously remain aware of their surroundings, ensuring that they take the proper precautions at all times.

The Law Office of James M. Hofmann

If your loved one has died due to a work injury, our compassionate legal team has a strong history of helping injured workers get medical attention and the financial compensation they need. If you lose a loved one while they are at work, you have the right to be compensated monetarily for your loss. The first place to start is to hire a St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney to decipher how to proceed.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300

The Airline Industry is Among the Most Hazardous

February 23, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann can provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices to receive the best medical care, benefits, and income.

Every time we travel by plane, we are surrounded by people working for the airline industry, from security workers to flight attendants to baggage handlers. These workers experience injuries for many reasons and in various places, such as in the terminal, on the tarmac, and in the air. According to the Flight Safety Foundation, the airline industry is among the most hazardous.

If you work in the airline industry and have been injured on the job, you must understand your workers’ compensation rights. The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann can help. We can provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices to receive the best medical care, benefits, and income.

Common Causes of Airline Industry Injuries

There are so many different types of workers in the airline industry. Some jobs require more physical tasks than others. There is also a variety of workplace environments for accidents to take place in. Some of the common cause include:

Handling uneven loads
Handling large, heavy, or odd-shaped luggage
Twisting and bending while loading luggage
Cleaning or servicing the aircraft while getting ready for the next flight
Mechanical errors
Slippery pavements
In-flight turbulence
Being struck by equipment or a vehicle
Shift worker disorder

Risks Within the Airline Industry

Each job within the airline industry comes with its own set of risks. For instance, ramp agents and ground crew are tasked with loading, unloading, assisting with aircraft pushback and towing, servicing aircraft, and many other things. These jobs are often strenuous and result in injury. Noise exposure from the aircraft, baggage handling equipment, and fuel trucks can lead to hearing loss.

Gate agents and crew have hectic jobs that can easily lead to workplace accidents. Job-induced stress is a common workplace issue many in this job experience. Stress dealing with passengers and the fast-paced job requirements can lead to accidents like slip and fall and other accidents due to fatigue and inattention.

Finally, flight attendants are subject to a wide variety of workplace injuries. They often suffer from shift work disorder as they generally work crazy schedules, which can change week to week. They also are prone to repetitive strain injuries, which affect nerves, muscles, and tendons.

Workers’ Comp for Your Injuries

If you work in the airline industry and have suffered a work-related injury, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We can provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices to receive the best medical care, benefits, and income. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers can stop the insurance carrier and employer from harassing you into returning to work before your doctor says that you are ready to return to work.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300

Work Injuries Due to Insufficient Job Training

February 22, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

With more than 25 years of experience, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers in Missouri.

Employers are legally obligated to assess the risks that their workplace presents. They must ensure that their employees are advised of any potential risks and have adequate and sufficient training.

If you were injured at work due to inadequate training or because you were not helped to understand the dangers and risks associated with your job, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. With more than 25 years of experience, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers in Missouri.

How to Know if You Were Inadequately Trained

In most cases, inadequate training claims are made because of an on-the-job work injury. In these cases, if employer negligence can be proven, the claim will succeed. This includes instances where the employer didn’t provide sufficient safety training on how to use machinery or tools. In other cases, this includes when an employer failed to help a worker identify potential risks to their health. In either situation, the employer is deemed to have exposed someone to an injury that could have been avoided.

If you were injured at work, your employer should have ensured:

That you were provided an adequate introduction to the workplace. In workplaces like an office, this would include fire safety training and basic manual handling. In more dangerous work settings, like construction sites and factories, training and instruction should be far more in-depth and needs to be very specific to that particular job.
That you were made aware of protective personal equipment requirements, like wearing a helmet or safety harness.
That the equipment you use for work is properly maintained and in good working order.
That the machinery or tools are only used by workers, who have been properly trained and are qualified to operate them.

Injuries related to inadequate training claims should have been avoided. This may seem obvious to many, but if an employee is given a physical job like lifting heavy objects repeatedly, they must be trained to lift safely. If you know that you did not receive such training, you may have an inadequate training claim.

The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann Can Help

If you have been injured at work, it is imperative that your incident details have been recorded properly and that medical attention is sought for your injuries. Your employer needs to be notified as soon as possible.

Our Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorneys can provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices so that you can receive the best medical care, benefits, and income. You should be receiving treatment for ALL of your injuries, not just the ones the insurance company wants to accept. Do not let the carrier deny you benefits.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300

Injured at Work? What Not to Say to Workers’ Comp Doctor

February 18, 2021 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

What you say to the work comp doctor can directly affect the outcome of your workers’ compensation claim.

Workplace injuries in the U.S. happen every day. From overexertion injuries to repetitive stress injuries, millions of workers are injured and visit the doctor each year.

Independent medical exams (IME) are an important part of getting your work-related injury treated correctly. They are also an essential part of the workers’ comp claim process. Your workers’ comp benefits provide coverage for all of your medical costs and reimburse you for any lost work time. Therefore, what you say to the doctor can directly affect the outcome of your claim. So knowing what not to say to the work comp doctor and staff is imperative.

What is an Independent Medical Exam?

Once the insurance company is notified of your injury claim, they will request that you submit an IME. An independent medical exam is a formal medical examination used to evaluate the extent of your workplace injury.

While the insurance company will say this IME is a “request,” it’s not. Failure to submit the IME will result in the denial of your work comp claim. The doctor conducting the IME will be an expert on workers’ comp injuries and claims. So you can expect that this doctor will have been chosen for you by the insurance company.

The work comp doctor will conduct a full medical exam, including questions, physical exams, and testing. An IME is typically used to decide if the medical treatment your doctor recommends is necessary. It may also be used to check on your work status and determine when you can go back to work.

What Not to Say

The doctor’s questions will likely be things another physician or the insurance company has already asked you. It is imperative to be consistent with your answers because the work comp doctor will be looking for discrepancies.

When answering these questions, do not:

Lie about symptoms you don’t have
Leave out past injuries
Omit details about the accident
Say negative things about your employer
Be rude or defensive

Lying or being negative are two major mistakes people make when interacting with the doctor. Make sure that you have your facts straight and share them honestly. This will ensure the best chance for having your workers’ compensation claim approved.

Talk to a Work Comp Attorney

If you have been injured on the job, it can be overwhelming trying to prove your case to get the compensation you need. Talking to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer is one of the best ways to ensure your case has a successful outcome.

When we take your case, we make recovering benefits our priority for you. We put decades of experience, a proven record of success, and a client-focused approach behind your workers’ compensation case.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300