Earning an income is an integral and basic part of adult life. Perhaps, you attended college to get a degree in a chosen field of study before entering the workforce full-time. Then again, maybe you were among many others in Kansas who determined that college wasn’t for you, and you entered the workforce right after high school. No matter how many years you’ve been gainfully employed, safety is always a primary concern.
Your employer has an obligation to provide proper training, information and equipment to help you avoid injury on the job as much as possible. Some jobs, however, are inherently more dangerous than others. If you happen to work in a dangerous industry, your risk for injury increases. The good news is that you can file a workers’ compensation claim if you suffer injury in the workplace to collect benefits to help you cover expenses associated with the incident.
Jobs that carry high risk for injury
You can work behind a desk, sitting at a computer all day, and still be at risk for injury on the job. In fact, many sedentary workers wind up suffering severely painful repetitive stress injuries that develop from repeating a motion or maintaining the same posture for hours at a time. The following list, however, includes jobs that typically rank high on lists that feature the most dangerous jobs in Kansas and throughout the country:
- Among more than 5,000 work-related deaths that occurred in recent years, many of them involved loggers. Logging is hands down one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S.
- When you earned a promotion to supervisor, you may have celebrated the pay and benefits increase. If you’re a first-line supervisor in a landscaping or groundskeeping company, however, you are at great risk for injury on the job.
- Construction work is highly dangerous as well. From heavy objects falling or workers having to climb to high heights, to using heavy machinery or having to work in deep trenches, accidents in construction zones often occur suddenly and result in serious injuries.
- Do you earn a living driving a commercial truck? If so, your job ranks among the 10 most dangerous jobs in the nation.
In addition to these jobs, many others carry increased risk for injury, too. If you work in an industry that is known for its danger, you are wise to regularly review safety regulations and tips for avoiding injury in the workplace. If you’re concerned about a particular safety issue, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your employer.
If a workplace accident occurs
If you’re involved in an on-the-job accident, your first priority is always to seek medical attention. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, which is why it’s best to go to the hospital even if you think you’re okay. Doing so also creates documentation of the incident, which may come in handy later.
You, of course, must inform your employer that you’ve been in a workplace accident. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a complex, stressful experience, so you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for additional support to help you navigate the system.