Texas residents who work in industries that are at serious risk for amputations should be aware that OSHA has updated the National Emphasis Program on this type of workplace injury. Therevisions include amputation policies and procedures for carrying out the program. Workers who working in sawmills, food manufacturing, meat process and retail and commercial bakeries are specifically at risk.
In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released data that indicated that approximately 2,000 workers suffered an amputation on the job. This mean that the rate, which was 1.7 per 10,000 workers who worked full-time, was double the rate for full-time workers in the private sector as a whole. Because of this, the directive applies to any workplace where employees may come into contact with machinery or anywhere else amputation hazards are present.
Ultimately, the directive should help ensure that employers keep their employees safe by doing what they can to eliminate serious workplace hazards that could cause an employee to suffer serious injuries. An amputation could cause a person to become permanently disabled and unable to return to work. If the injury is serious enough, employees who suffer an amputation could even lose their lives.
When employees suffer workplace injuries, such as an amputation, the consequences can be severe. They may be hospitalized for a long period of time and their way of life may be impacted once they recover. An attorney can assist with filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits from the employer’s insurance policy. These benefits can include the provision of medical care and treatment as well as a percentage of wages that have been lost due to an inability to return to work.