St. Louis Workers' Compensation Blog

Acrophobia is the fear of heights. You may be surprised just how many people here in Missouri and elsewhere suffer from this phobia. You may not find many of those people working with you in the construction business, however.

It would be almost impossible for someone working in the construction industry to avoid heights. However, there is a distinct difference between having a phobia regarding heights and having a healthy fear of them. One may keep you from working at heights, and the other may help keep you safe while working above the ground.

You might think your workplace is safe, but very few facilities are accident-proof. Many Missouri workers rely on their employers to protect their safety and health as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes. However, for many business owners, profits are more important, leaving it up to employees to look out for their own safety.

Workplace accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and the severity of injuries are not always immediately apparent. Brain injuries fall in this category because a medical examination after an on-the-job injury will likely include x-rays to check for fractures, but CT scans to check for brain injuries are expensive and are not likely to form part of the evaluation. This frequently leads to brain-injury workers being sent back to work with undiagnosed injuries. Concussions can cause permanent loss of cognitive functioning and potential life-long problems.

Missouri workers who suffer injury on the job are entitled to financial recovery through their employer's workers' compensation insurance. However, you may be unaware of the fact that you could also be entitled to compensation if you become sick as a direct result of your job. Occupational illnesses could be valid grounds to file a workers' compensation benefits claim.

When your work makes you sick, you have the right to seek the support you need in order to achieve a full recovery. You are entitled to medical care, continued rehabilitation as needed and possibly even recompense for lost wages. In order to understand more about your rights, you may find it useful to seek an evaluation of your case.

When a painful injury prevents you from working, it can disrupt your entire life, whether that injury is the result of a single accident or of cumulative trauma over time. Workers in various fields and industries face the risk of repetitive stress injuries, but people tend to overlook and dismiss these types of injuries because they are unseen. 

Carpal tunnel is one of the most common types of repetitive stress injuries. It develops over time and can ultimately become so painful that Missouri victims are unable to continue with what were once daily, routine activities. If you are suffering from this type of injury, you may have a rightful claim to certain types of financial benefits.