The community continues to function given the individual roles citizens play and laws in place. There are, however, unsung heroes who chose the hard but rather fulfilling path of high-risk and liability jobs. Sometimes, they have to put their lives on the line so that others may live. Here are some professionals that do so:
Firefighter
Any building structure can catch fires and unless someone inside is trained to set a fire extinguisher off when a fire is still small, firefighters, are often called in to do put off larger scale ones. They also brave through seemingly fire-engulfed buildings to rescue trapped people. And, now with wildfires becoming more widespread their work is even more in demand. Although their suits are fire-resistant, they could still endure degrees of burn on their bodies in the worst cases.
Construction Worker
Day-in to day-out, construction workers are surrounded by injury risks. They carry heavy construction materials and manipulate heavy equipment for hours to no end, which could lead to muscle pains and early nerve degeneration. They also climb scaffolding and higher altitudes of up to tens of stories of buildings sometimes yielding their PPE inadequate to protect them in case of falls.
Although contractors require their personnel to don protective gear like hard hats, gloves, reflective vests, and harnesses, mishaps in the site remain inevitable. Electricity lines left on when installing wiring could lead to electrocution. Faulty work could lead to debris falling to workers below.
Police Officer
Police officers are often deployed to crime scenes, some with active shooters or hostile armed individuals. They are also summoned to apprehend citizens who pose public disturbance or curb aggressive behavior in public demonstrations. At times, they are sent to operations to trace high-profile criminals or terrorists. Injury, bloodshed, and death are ever on their side when on duty.
Being tasked by the government to maintain peace and order in their assigned locality, they are required to maintain grit and alertness to respond to any breaches. They are also involved in immediate response teams for accidents on the road or other public establishments. The work demand spills through their long round-the-clock shifts, part of those they have to spend creating police reports with the chance of rushing to codes.
Nursing Assistant
Not given enough credit in the medical world are nursing assistants. They supplement the services provided by nurses by helping carry patients, retrieving medical supplies from the warehouse, moving heavy equipment across the hospital’s hallways to the patient’s room, bathing bedridden patients, and replacing soiled linens. They do all these efficiently while being exposed to risks of infectious diseases. Due to such a strenuous work routine, many nursing assistants complain of chronic back and joint pain throughout their careers.
Truck Driver
Not all licensed drivers are qualified to be truck drivers. It requires specialized training to maneuver and maintain heavy-load industrial trucks. They need to be savvy with traffic routes and have to drive for long hours, often even during the dark evening or early dawn to evade the rush hour. If they are not well-rested before the travel, they could run into accidents risking not only their safety but that of others on the road.
At times, they are required to deliver goods from point to point due to an unexpected need. With this, they need to speed up their driving while being conscious of the smaller vehicles beside or adjacent to them. It’s just as much a high-liability job because of the accumulated costs of the goods they carry on their trucks. Loading and unloading them requires just as much care as transporting them.
Compensation
If you are any of these heroic professionals, you sure must have encountered almost debilitating or life-threatening situations. This leaves you pondering if you were compensated in any way by your employer for these injuries you sustained on the job. If the amount you receive seems questionable, you can always heed the advice of a personal injury lawyer. Also, it’s best to be refreshed of what damages you can claim from any future incidents:
Temporary Disability
For injuries that require you to take time off work to recuperate, you can claim temporary disability benefits. The provision varies in every state and employer, but the rule of thumb is you are provided 66 percent of your average pay rate and shall be sent to you every two weeks. Only, your attending physician needs to certify your current inability to work.
Permanent Disability
For irreversible injuries rendering you unable to fully deliver your duties on the job, you may be rewarded money commensurate to how much your injury limits you to perform tasks. The rate also depends on age, job,
Vocational Rehabilitation
If an injury renders you incapable of returning to your job, you may request assistance in your next job search. During the search, you shall be funded a portion of your present income.
You have to keep in mind that, for you to qualify for these benefits, you have to comply with the required documentation. This includes filing a report to your employer, filling in claim forms, and filing this claim the soonest as possible. Do not downplay your injuries just when you recovered because you deserve to be paid for your sacrifice.
