Hand injuries are a common type of work injury. Each year more than 1 million workers go to the emergency room due to hand injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you sustained a hand injury on the job, you may be eligible for compensation.

Types of Hand Injuries

Common hand injuries include:

• Cuts and Lacerations – Cuts and lacerations range from mild to severe. In order to avoid cuts and lacerations, workers should wear cut resistant gloves.
• Burns – Burns can be categorized as thermal, which include exposure to flames, steam, and hot liquid; electrical, which happens when an electrical current runs through the body; and chemical, which deals with hazardous substances and how they cause a chemical change in your skin.
• Fractures and Broken Bones – Heavy machinery and equipment have the potential of causing blunt force trauma to a worker’s hands causing fractures and broken bones.
• Punctures – Punctures occur when sharp objects such as nails or needles penetrate the skin.

Who is at Risk of Hand Injuries?

Anyone is potentially at risk for hand injuries. However, less experienced workers are at a higher risk of sustaining a hand injury. Construction workers and workers who are employed at manufacturing industries are also at risk. When working these types of jobs, it is important to limit the amount of distractions around to avoid injuries. Employers should also take steps to protect their employees.

How Employers can Protect Employees

Employers can protect their employees by:

• Providing personal protective equipment – Gloves help to minimize your risk of hand injuries such as cuts, lacerations, and punctures.
• Educate employees – Employers should educate employees by offering training programs that deal with different tools and equipment and how to use them.
• Communicate – Employers should stress the importance of communication and encourage employees to ask questions and voice their concerns regarding safety issues. Employers should also be available as often as possible.

Workers’ Compensation for Hand Injuries

Workers’ compensation offers wage benefits to employees injured on the job. In general, an employee who was hurt on the job will be eligible for benefits regardless of who was at fault for the injury. Compensation may cover lost wages, medical expenses and even death benefits to families of a deceased employee. In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, a few factors must be in place first:

• You must be an employee
• You must have sustained a work-related injury
• Your employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance
• You must meet your state’s deadline for reporting your injury

Reading Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. Represent Clients Injured on the Job

If you have sustained an injury on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Contact a Reading workers’ compensation lawyer at Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C. Our experienced lawyers are here to help you through the process of filing a claim. For a free consultation, contact us online or call us by phone at 888-PITT-LAW.

From our offices in Philadelphia, Lansdowne, Bensalem and Reading, we represent clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania, including those in Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, as well as in the communities of Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, Clifton Heights, Crum Lynne, Darby, Downingtown, Doylestown, Drexel Hill, Essington, Folcroft, Glenolden, Haverford, Havertown, Holmes, Kutztown, Lansdowne, Media, Merion Station, Morton, Narberth, Norristown, Norwood, Philadelphia, Prospect Park, Quakertown, Reading, Roxborough, Sharon Hill, Upper Darby, West Chester and Wynnewood.