Getting Hurt on the Job
Getting hurt on the job is a daily occurrence in schools across the nation. It is important to know your rights and if you get hurt, to take full advantage of the worker's compensation laws. You need to protect yourself, so make sure that you fully understand the procedures and that you follow through.
Reporting Injuries
The first thing you must do in order to qualify for worker's compensation is to report your injury to your school. You will probably have to fill out an accident report describing exactly what happened. You should do this even if you think your injury is minor or you are not planning to visit a doctor.
This will protect and cover you if something related to your injury arises once you get home or over the next few days. Sometimes injuries that seem minor worsen over time. Just make sure to cover all bases, and fill out any necessary paperwork when an injury does occur.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2001, there were 3.4 nonfatal injuries per 100 full-time workers in elementary and secondary schools. Of those individual injuries, one-third resulted in lost time at work.
Getting Medical Attention
If you are hurt, usually your school will send you to a doctor that handles the district's worker's compensation cases. Make sure to see this doctor if you have any questions at all about the extent of your injury. Read up on your rights concerning second opinions and understand exactly what you should expect from the school if you require extensive medical attention or time away from the classroom.
Do not wait to get medical attention, even if you do not think you are that severely injured. Small problems can easily lead to more complications if not taken care of properly.
