Every employee takes on a certain level of risk as part of their job, whether they’re answering phones or working as a firefighter. However, some workers take on a substantially greater risk than others. What are the most dangerous jobs in Pennsylvania? More importantly, what should a person do when they get hurt?
Taking The Greatest Risks
As part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) keeps track of the rate of injury across all industries on a state-by-state basis. Some of the most dangerous occupations in Pennsylvania include:
- Transportation and warehousing: This includes forklift operators, warehouse workers, truck drivers and others.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting: While fishing isn’t a staple of Pennsylvania’s economy, many people operate farm equipment and machinery, which comes with elevated risk.
- Healthcare and social services: This includes nurses, nursing home workers, personal care attendants and social workers.
- Manufacturing: Assembly line workers, machinists, welders, quality control workers and others all fall into this category.
- Construction: Carpenters, electricians, equipment operators and other laborers can be seriously injured on the job.
Another surprising entry on this list are people who work in “arts, entertainment, and recreation.” The high injury rates in this category largely come from people who work as personal trainers, athletes and other highly physical jobs that place above-average demands on their bodies.
What Should Injured Workers Do?
If you work in one of the industries above, in all likelihood you already approach your job with extra caution. You may have witnessed the injury of a coworker, or even experienced an incident yourself. If you are injured on the job, taking the right steps is essential:
- Report the incident immediately. When something goes wrong, you need to tell your supervisor or manager as soon as possible.
- Get the medical care you need. Prompt medical care is essential, both from a health perspective and a legal perspective.
- Consult with a workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney with a proven track record can make sure that you don’t accidentally undermine your injury claim or miss crucial deadlines.
Every employer needs to take steps to ensure that your workplace is safe, especially in jobs that are known to be dangerous. However, if these precautions fail, you deserve financial stability in order to focus on your recovery. That is precisely what a good attorney can help you achieve.