Did you know that workers’ compensation coverage applies to natural disasters? If a fire, earthquake, hurricane or any other type of disaster results in an employee’s injury, workers’ compensation benefits can apply. Workers’ compensation is designed to protect a worker from any work-related injury or illness, regardless if it was caused by controllable circumstances or not. If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, it is essential that you learn about your rights as an employee if disaster strikes.
Shifting Job Responsibilities
A common consequence resulting from natural disasters is the disruption of normal business activities. Often times, after a disaster workers are required to shift responsibilities to compensate for this unforeseen disturbance. When an employee changes job activities, an employer must ensure that the proper protocol is followed to maintain workers’ compensation coverage for their employees, despite their change in job descriptions.
Increased Health and Safety Hazards
Another major factor that must be considered when protecting workers after a natural disaster is the increased risk of health and safety hazards. Disasters are extremely destructive and leave a massive amount of damage that must be repaired. The clean-up process after a disaster can lead to a higher risk of employees being injured by electrocution, disease, falling debris, chemical spills, air quality and more. Employers and employees must both proceed with caution when dealing with these dangerous elements as they are serious threats to the safety in a workplace.
Lost Wages
Even if a disaster doesn’t result in a shift of job responsibilities or more health and safety hazards, employee protections can still apply. If your place of employment must close for a period of time because of a natural disaster, it should pay for lost wages. If your workplace will not cover lost time after a natural disaster, you should immediately file an unemployment claim once the disaster is officially declared. You also have the option to utilize the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program which “is a federal unemployment assistance program that provides compensation for individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster, but who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI)”. Overall, it is important that you lessen your suffering from the detrimental repercussions of natural disasters. Although they cannot be avoided, there are steps you can take as an employee after a disaster to ensure that you are protected.
If you have experienced unfair treatment after incurring an injury or losing wages because of a natural disaster, you are eligible to file a claim. Regardless of the cause of your workplace injury, workers’ compensation is designed to protect your rights and well-being in the workplace. Contact Poirier Law Firm today if you feel like you have not been justly compensated or protected after a natural disaster.