5 Things to Know About Warehouse Workers and On-the-Job Injuries
Warehouse workers in Maryland perform a wide range of job duties, and many of them involve the operation of heavy machinery and physical movement that can result in bodily harm. When a warehouse worker in Maryland sustains an on-the-job injury, it is essential for that worker to know that they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers can tell you more about warehouse work injuries more broadly, and we can talk with you about the specifics of your case in order to help you seek compensation through the Maryland workers’ compensation system. The following are five key things to know about warehouse workers and on-the-job injuries in Maryland.
- Warehousing Work Requires a Range of Job Duties
Jobs in warehouses can involve a wide range of tasks, and many of them can include injury risks. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), warehousing jobs typically involve one or more of the following:
- Industrial truck and/or tractor operation;
- Freight movement;
- Stocking and material moving;
- Shipping and receiving;
- Stock clerk job duties;
- Storage;
- Distribution; and
- Transportation (such as truck driving).
- Different Types of Warehouses Can Have Varying Injury Risks
In addition to the various types of job duties in warehouses, it is also important to know that there are different kinds of warehouses that can come with their own particular hazards. According to Inbound Logistics, the following are common types of warehouses:
- Public warehouses;
- Distribution centers;
- Smart warehouses;
- Cold storage warehouses;
- On-demand warehouses; and
- Hazmat (hazardous materials) warehouses.
- Certain Injuries Are Common in Warehousing Work
Some accidents and injuries happen more often than others in warehousing work. Common warehouse accidents include but are not limited to:
- Slips, trips, and falls;
- Forklift accidents;
- Repetitive stress injuries;
- Overexertion injury;
- Hit by falling object;
- Caught-between injury;
- Traffic crashes; and
- Exposure to hazardous substances.
- Warehouse Injuries Are Compensable When They Arise Out of Employment
In order for a warehouse work injury, or any other work injury, in Maryland to be compensable, it must be the result of an “accidental personal injury arising out of an in the course of employment.” Your lawyer can assess your case to determine whether your injury is likely to be compensable.
- Warehouse Injury Claims Must Be Filed Within Two Years
Under Maryland law, if you were injured while performing warehousing work, you must file your accidental injury claim within two years from the date the injury occurred. Otherwise, your claim will be time-barred within the workers’ compensation system.
Contact a Maryland Warehouse Worker Injury Lawyer Today
Were you injured while performing warehousing work in Maryland? One of the experienced Maryland warehouse injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can speak with you today about your circumstances. We can learn more about your workplace injury in order to assist you with your workers’ compensation claim, and we can answer any questions you have about warehousing injuries or the process for seeking compensation. Contact us today for assistance with your Maryland workers’ compensation claim.
Sources:
bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag493.htm#about
inboundlogistics.com/articles/types-of-warehouses/
wcc.state.md.us/Gen_Info/WCC_Benefits.html
