In New Bedford, MA, there are approximately 64,030 jobs for civilian workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that top occupations include healthcare practitioners; food and service workers; sales workers; and office and administrative support staff.
The health services sector, in which 4,860 New Bedford workers are employed, has become one of the most dangerous fields of employment. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported 653,900 workplace injuries among healthcare workers nationwide. This is more instances of workplace illness and injury than any other field. Workers in this profession and others in New Bedford have legal rights if they get hurt on-the-job. Employees injured at work should consult with a New Bedford workers’ compensation lawyer at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for assistance after they experience a workplace injury.
New Bedford Workers Face Risks of Injury or FatalitiesNew Bedford is located in Bristol County, MA and is the sixth largest city in Massachusetts. New Bedford has a long history of industrial activity, as it was one of the most important whaling ports in the world during the 19th century. Today, more than 95,072 people live in New Bedford, and the area is home to the largest community of Portuguese-Americans than any other area in the country.
New Bedford is bordered by Dartmouth, Freetown, Fairhaven, and Acushnet. Interstate 195 is the main freeway that crosses through Central New Bedford and the freeway extends from Providence, Rhode Island to Wareham. New Bedford is considered part of the Providence metropolitan area, and the city is classified as a coastal city. Both manufacturing and fishing are two of the largest businesses in New Bedford, although Southcoast Hospitals Group has become a major employer and driven the expansion of the healthcare industry. Southcoast Hospitals Group is actually one of the top 10 employers in Massachusetts.
Healthcare and manufacturing companies, as well as other employers, have obligations to New Bedford workers. Unfortunately, these employers sometimes fail to follow appropriate precautions to protect workers. In recent years, for example, a New Bedford seafood producer was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failure to properly train workers and shut down machinery before asking employees to perform maintenance. A worker was killed as a result of the lapse.
When an employer does not live up to safety standards, OSHA citations can total thousands of dollars. However, a failure to fulfill safety duties is not a prerequisite for an injured employee making a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp benefits are available to any employee, as well as to family members of workers killed on the job, provided that the injuries or deaths are work-related.
Getting Help from a New Bedford Workers’ Compensation LawyerAfter a workplace injury, workers are entitled to medical treatment paid for through workers’ compensation. Temporary or permanent disability benefits, as well as death benefits, are also available through a Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim. An experienced legal team can provide assistance in making a benefits claim, resolving disputed claims, or appealing denied workers’ comp claims. The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents oversees workers’ compensation benefits in Massachusetts and is the agency that is tasked with presiding over workers’ compensation disputes. Your attorney can help to submit forms to the DIA and can represent you in negotiating a settlement or presenting an argument for benefits at a workers’ comp hearing.
Schedule your free consultation with a New Bedford workers’ compensation lawyer at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers. Call (617) 777-7777 or contact us online.