Some Pennsylvania workers have obvious fall risks created by their careers. Construction workers, roofers and others who do their jobs at a significant elevation could end up severely hurt if they fall while doing their jobs. For those in certain high-risk professions, falls are a leading source of fatal injury and a concern for long-term well-being as well. Workers in specialized professions often need to assert their workplace safety rights and make proper use of gear intended to prevent falls from a significant elevation.
Yet, falls are not a risk limited to a few specialized industries. Workers in almost any profession could be at risk of falling on the job and may not realize how dangerous a same-level fall could be.
Same-level falls can cause major injuries
Someone does not need to fall multiple stories for a fall to cause significant injuries. A fall at the same level can lead to numerous significant injuries. For example, someone could break an arm or shoulder blade while trying to stop a fall in progress.
Others might hit their heads and suffer traumatic brain injuries. The physical response to falling could also lead to soft tissue injuries. Particularly if someone’s job requires physical effort or many hours on their feet each day, the consequences of a same-level fall could leave them unable to work temporarily. Same-level falls are a leading source of work injury in many different professions.
How workers’ compensation helps
When someone gets hurt on the job, they may apply for workers’ compensation benefits. The program can offer both medical coverage and disability benefits to qualifying employees. Someone who experiences a same-level fall on the job might require medical treatment for their injuries.
If they cannot do their job until their condition improves, they may also qualify for disability benefits. In the rare scenario where someone has life-altering injuries, possibly stemming from major broken bones or brain injuries, long-term disability benefits may also be available.
Provided that there are medical needs and a requirement to take time off from work, an injured employee could potentially qualify for workers’ compensation after a same-level fall. Filing a benefits claim can reduce the financial impact that on-the-job injuries have on Pennsylvania workers.