Construction is a dangerous business. There are plenty of fall risks, sharp objects, hot items and other injury hazards around every corner. Those that might not seem as obvious are the head injury risks. They aren’t as apparent as a saw blade, or ever-present as a fall risk. However, they do exist, usually in every construction setting. That’s why you should always enforce headgear rules for all of your workers. Here’s how you can do so.
If necessary, everyone on a construction site needs to have access to head gear, primarily hard hats, ear protection and eyewear. These three simple items can help prevent severe injuries to contractors of all shapes and sizes. It might even prevent a costly workers’ compensation claim.
The Need for Headgear
You might not think there’s a risk of a head injury if you are replacing someone’s bathroom sink, or laying new tile in their kitchen. However, though the risks are low in these particular scenarios, they exist in almost every construction zone.
Still, in some construction areas, there exist significant head injury risks. If you work in elevated areas, or in areas where something could fall on you, then you might face significant risks. Therefore, it’s best to have a hard hat available to put on in these cases.
Eyewear and Ear Protection
Often, it’s not enough to just protect the top of your head. For example, there’s always a chance that loud machinery could do damage to your hearing over the years of working in construction settings. Or, perhaps, flying sparks, wood shavings or debris could get into your eyes, causing discomfort if not a more serious injury.
These risks are why you should always know the environments, materials and machinery with which you will work. You might need noise-cancelling earplugs or a pair of protective goggles. Masks or respirators might also prove necessary.
Workers’ Compensation Claims for these Cases
If you or one of your employees gets hurt on the job, then you might have a right to file for workers’ compensation. The funds provided by a workers’ compensation insurance policy can help the injured party cover their medical costs. It can also provide a supplementary income to aid someone during their recovery or for a disability. Some policies might even provide a death benefit should someone get killed.
Workers’ compensation policies can usually pay for both sudden injuries and long-term exposure injuries. So, both a sudden injury and long-term ear damage might qualify for coverage. However, you will have to prove that the injury was related to your work. All the same, the careful use of safety gear can help you cut the chances that you’ll have to make such a claim at all.