Workers’ Compensation for Puncture Wounds
Puncture wounds can occur in a wide range of occupations, from work in hospitals to work at grocery retails stores and on construction sites. Sometimes these injuries can be relatively minor and do not require significant time away from work for medical care and recovery. In other cases, however, puncture wounds may be severe or may cause serious long-term issues for workers. When a puncture wound occurs at work, it is important for the injured worker to find out more about seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Consider the following information about puncture wounds and the need to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Learning More About Puncture Wounds
Puncture wounds can be small or large, and they can range from minor to extremely serious wounds. According to Mount Sinai, a puncture wound is similar to a cut or laceration that breaks the skin, but it may be more serious than it appears. A puncture injury is “a wound made by a pointed object such as a nail, knife, or sharp tooth,” and “puncture wounds often appear to be on the surface but may extend into the deeper tissue layers.”
When a puncture wound occurs on a particular part of the body, or involves a large object, it can be a life-threatening injury. Certain types of puncture wounds also pose a greater risk of severe infection, including those involving dirty objects and those on the feet. When a puncture occurs with an object that contains biological substances (such as a needle stick in a hospital setting), a worker can become infected with a serious disease. As the Mayo Clinic explains, any signs of infection at the site of a puncture wound should be addressed immediately by a health care provider.
Jobs Where Puncture Wounds Are Common
Puncture wounds can occur in any type of job where a worker is around sharp objects, including nails, needles, knives, box cutters, and more. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the following are the types of professions in which puncture wounds occur most often:
- Meatpacking and butchering;
- Restaurant work, baking, and other culinary professions;
- Construction work;
- Retail, including grocery stores and other retail establishments; and
- Health care.
Personal protective equipment and safety procedures can help to minimize the risk of a puncture wound. Yet these injuries still occur, and workers may require immediate medical care as well as longer term care to allow for a successful recovery. Many workers who sustain puncture wounds on the job can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact Our Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today for Assistance
Puncture wounds can vary greatly in terms of their severity, as well as the long-term consequences of the injury. When a puncture wound requires an employee to take time away from work, they may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits that include coverage for medical care and payments for lost wages. One of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can discuss your work injury with you today and can assist you with your workers’ compensation claim. Contact us for more information.
Sources:
blog.oshaonlinecenter.com/prevent-workplace-cuts-puncture-wounds/
mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-puncture-wounds/basics/art-20056665
mountsinai.org/health-library/injury/cuts-and-puncture-wounds
