Some of Central Pennsylvania’s larger industries include forestry work and jobs related to hunting and fishing.
According to a recent article, these industries rank as the deadliest and second deadliest in the country. This ranking is based on the number of fatalities per 100,000 workers in the industry.
Not surprisingly, many other workers in these fields, around 3 or 4 out of 100, suffer reportable non-fatal injuries.
Hershey and the surrounding communities are the home to many other dangerous industries as well.
For example, garbage collectors, truckers and other transportation workers and many people in the construction and manufacturing trades. These professions, which also ranked among the deadliest, are commonplace around the region.
Especially if their business is in a dangerous industry, employers in the area should both work to prevent accidents and have a plan should one occur despite their efforts.
What do I need to know about an employee’s rights after an injury?
Employers in Pennsylvania have an obligation to follow this state’s workers’ compensation laws and applicable workplace safety laws.
They must also remember that their employees have other rights when it comes to workplace accidents and hazards.
Pennsylvania workers have the right to file workers’ compensation claims without retaliation. An employer may not fire, discipline or take other adverse actions just because an employee sought workers’ compensation benefits.
Likewise, employees have the right to without penalty report safety problems and participate in official investigations regarding workplace safety rules.
Most employers would probably never think of ignoring the law deliberately. However, employers may face some thorny questions after an accident.
For instance, is there anything they can do if a worker hurt themselves after either being careless or violating a safety rule?
Employers need to understand their rights and responsibilities before taking human resource actions after a work accident. They will also want to have clear policies and the necessary means to enforce them.