Nov 25, 2025 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
There are many different positions in the workforce which might lead to your requiring the use of scaffolding. Maybe you work in construction, architecture, window cleaning, or even painting. Whatever the profession, it’s important that scaffolding safety be used every step of the way. From construction, to removal, and everything in between— there is a danger to this workplace necessity. However, there are plenty of ways that you can combat it.
Scaffolding Safety: Avoiding Unnecessary Injury
It starts with construction…
As with anything safety-related, there should be a seasoned professional in charge of constructing the scaffolding you’ll be using for any job. When scaffolding isn’t built correctly, it might not be stable enough to hold there necessary weight, and you run the risk of a dangerous, or even deadly, collapse. Hire someone qualified to do the work, and remember to do your own research.
While you want a qualified person in the driver’s seat— you should be prepared to ask a few questions: what footing will you use? Are the planks strong enough to support the necessary weight? And lastly, will there be the necessary support wires and ropes to support heavy loads attached to the scaffolding? While a seasoned professional will obviously have all of these supplies and questions at the ready— you never can be too sure.
Workplace safety
Just as you want qualified professionals building the scaffolding, you also want professionals using them. Scaffolding is often a bit wobbly, regardless of sound construction. Furthermore, it can also be quite tight in terms of work space. Slip and fall injuries are a common risk associated with scaffolding, and that’s where safety comes in.
Avoid slipping hazards
Keep your scaffolding clear of obstructions and hazards, such as rain, ice, or slippery materials— such as paint. Furthermore, keep your tripping hazards in place, such as your tools. Work only under safe conditions. No high winds, no rain, and no distractions.
Safety equipment
Lastly, make sure you’re using the proper safety equipment when working on the scaffolding. From non-slip shoes, to safety harnesses, hard hats, — safety is the number one priority in any and all work environments.
Nov 18, 2025 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be an emotionally draining experience, especially when you’re already dealing with an injury. It often involves a mix of stress, uncertainty, and frustration as you navigate paperwork, medical appointments, and interactions with your employer and insurance adjusters. Preparing yourself mentally can help you stay grounded and focused throughout the process. Whether you are just starting your claim or you’re already facing delays or pushback, understanding what to expect can ease anxiety and improve your ability to cope. It’s important to go in with realistic expectations, stay organized, and be ready to advocate for yourself if needed. Having the right mindset can also help you manage setbacks and avoid burnout. The claims process may not be quick or simple, but staying mentally strong can make a real difference in your outcome.
Mentally Preparing Yourself for a Workers’ Compensation Claim: Making the Process Less Stressful
Be Realistic
One of the first steps in preparing for a workers’ compensation claim is to set realistic expectations. The process can be slow, and it’s not always straightforward. You may face delays, questions about your injury, or even a denial at first. Knowing this ahead of time helps you avoid added stress and disappointment if things don’t move as quickly as you’d like.
Get Organized
Another way to mentally prepare for a workers’ compensation claim is to get organized. Keep a folder or digital file of all your medical records, communication with your employer, and forms you’ve submitted. Being able to quickly find what you need will save you time and reduce frustration. Staying organized can also help you feel more in control of your situation. When you plan to make phone calls, have all of the information in front of you so that you can answer questions quickly about how the accident occurred, or who medical providers are.
Ask for Help
It’s also helpful to recognize when you need support. Talking with a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional can help you manage the emotional side of your injury and claim. In some cases, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney can ease the pressure and give you peace of mind. They can help you navigate the process itself, ensure that your paperwork is filed correctly, advocate on your behalf for the claim, and help you calculate the compensation that your company owes you.
Stay Focused
Finally, patience and focus are key to managing the stress of a workers’ compensation claim. It’s normal to feel frustrated when things take longer than expected or when paperwork piles up. Take things one step at a time and remind yourself that healing and fair treatment are the main goals. Mental resilience can help you keep going, even when the process feels difficult.
Preparing for a workers’ compensation claim starts with understanding that the process might be slow and complicated. Staying organized can reduce stress and help you respond quickly when action is needed. Emotional support and legal guidance can also lighten the load and give you the strength to keep going. Speak with a qualified attorney about your rights and to help you get the compensation that you deserve. Finally, having patience and mental focus can help you stay steady during long or frustrating periods. Give yourself some grace, and understand that it can take a while to feel like yourself again. Not only are you dealing with recovery from an injury or illness, but also with the
Nov 10, 2025 | Workers' Compensation
Season shifts can really throw you for a loop. You might be expecting more cool fall days and then get hit with a heat wave out of nowhere. Or finally be transitioning back to warm weather before getting one last surprise snow. Weather can be very unpredictable, and during the time of year when it transitions from one season to the next, it’s important to be prepared for anything. Bring along whatever supplies you’ll need for any kind of weather, or keep your car stocked with essentials for the whole family. Be weather aware in case of things like icy mornings, or when you begin traveling in the dark around daylight savings. Practice healthy habits like hand-washing because these are times of the year when sicknesses tend to spread. And finally, increase your vitamins to protect your immunity and help keep you feeling more positive, even when the weather is getting darker. Some areas of the county have more dependable weather than others, but if you live in an area that often has false starts to seasons, it’s helpful to prepare for all possibilities when you leave the house in the morning.
Staying Healthy and Comfortable During Season Shifts: Always Be Prepared
Bring Everything
In order to stay comfortable during season shifts, it’s helpful to just bring everything you think you might possibly need. For example, if it’s been cooler, keep packing plenty of water and sunscreen for those surprise 80 degree days. If the weather has been cool but is starting to get warm, don’t ditch the jacket quite yet. Instead, wear layers that you can easily take off and add on throughout the day as the temperature changes. It’s helpful to keep your car stocked with the essentials for the whole family like warm clothes, raincoats, and plenty of water and snacks.
Be Weather Aware
It’s also important to stay weather aware during season shifts. If the weather is transitioning from winter into spring, you’ll need to stay aware in case of surprise cold mornings with icy roads. Continue to bring along things like snow tires and snow boots if you live in an area where you might get unexpected snow storms. During daylight savings time, the roads can be especially dangerous. Drivers are getting used to leaving earlier in the morning when it’s darker, or driving home later at night. Make sure to be on the lookout for drowsy drivers and pedestrians that are less visible.
Practice Healthy Habits
Season shifts often are times when a lot of illness begin to circulate. Weather changes can have effects on our immunity and overall health, and when the weather gets colder, colds and viruses often start going around even more frequently. Practice healthy habits like frequent hand-washing and getting plenty of sleep to keep your immune system strong. If you are feeling ill, stay home or wear a mask in public so that you don’t spread your germs to others.
Increase Vitamins C and D
Finally, increasing your vitamins C and D can also help prevent illness during season shifts. So you might consider adding in a supplement of vitamin C into your diet to help strengthen your immune system. And vitamin D can help you fight off the blues if you’re experiencing some seasonal affective depression or mood disorders. This is especially important as seasons transition from Spring into Winter, and the weather begins to get darker and colder. Make sure you’re getting outside for any sun that you can soak up, and consider supplementing your diet with vitamin D as well.
Season shifts can be a time when illnesses crop up, when schedules get a little hectic, and when things like seasonal affective disorder start to show up. It’s helpful to take some steps to make sure you’re prepared to handle these changes in weather. Stock your car with all the essentials that you’ll need in case the weather shifts dramatically during the day. Additionally, be alert for changing weather patterns, and be especially careful right around daylight savings time. Practice healthy habits like frequent hand-washing, getting plenty of sleep, getting exercise, and staying home when sick to keep your immune system strong. And finally, increase your vitamin intake to protect yourself from illnesses and the effects of seasonal affective disorder. Hopefully, by taking these steps, you can avoid the pitfalls of this time of year and instead focus your energy on the excitement of the upcoming season.
Oct 5, 2025 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
Getting back to work after a work injury can be difficult, painful, and time consuming. Furthermore, you’re likely wondering what the requirements are for returning to work. Who do I have to tell? Will I still receive necessary medical care? And can I request light duty? Making your work return after an injury can be a difficult process. But we’re here to answer questions, and help make sense of it all.
Making your Work Return after Work Injury: What Do I Need to Know?
After an accident or illness on the job, making your work return can be stressful. However, a doctor may release you to begin light duty. While the pain may be manageable, it may still be there. That means, at times, even light duty work responsibilities may still leave you hurting. Furthermore, there is also a chance you may not be returning to the same job or position. In that case you will have the stress of learning a new position and developing a new routine. In the midst of these stressful issues, you may also have questions about workers comp.
Compensation for lost time
After you go back to work, you may still miss some days due to you injury or illness. For instance, doctor’s appointments and therapy session may be a cause of missing time. In addition, just being in pain or sick may require you to stay out of work. In that case, you may be able to receive worker’s comp for that lost time even after returning to light duty, or standard, work.
Keeping your previous job open
Your employer does not have to keep your job open. However, a lot of employers will take you back when you can return for light duty. Therefore, it may be a good idea to keep in contact with your employer throughout your injury process. Keep them updated, ask about your position, and make preparations for your return.
Who you should tell?
Before you feel ready to return to work, or when the doctor gives the all clear, it’s important to make your employer aware and begin making preparations. Furthermore, once you return to work, you must notify the Worker’s Compensation Board. Lastly, the insurance carrier that is paying your medical bills should be made aware as well.
Understanding Your Benefits
Returning to work can be a challenging, but understanding your benefits and responsibilities— makes the process that much smoother. While unfortunate, it can be very easy to be denied benefits, or taken advantage of, during the worker’s compensation process. If you feel that you fall into that category, reach out to an attorney today. Dealing with a work injury is difficult enough already, don’t lose out on your benefits, or position, as well.
Sep 21, 2025 | Work Injuries, Workers' Compensation
Most worker’s injuries that you come across are physical. A broken bone, a concussion, a bad slip… There are plenty of ways to receive an injury on the job. However, one means of injury, is illness that you contract on the job site. Just like a physical injury, workplace illness can look plenty of different ways. As many of you know, the flu has been running rampant in the Carolinas over the past few weeks. It seems like between the weather change, and kids getting back to school— most families can’t seem to catch a break.
However, what you might not realize, is that schools are not the only place where illnesses spread like wildfire. In fact, work spaces are just as common. So, what can you do? Workplace illness prevention tactics are actually quite simple, and as an employee— or employer, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your workplace sick-free.
Workplace Illness Prevention Tactics: Fighting Flu Season
Disinfect your spaces
One of the most obvious steps you can take to prevent workplace illness, is to keep your spaces clean and disinfected. You’d be amazed how many germs can make their way into your workspace throughout the day. Shuffled papers, trips to the coffee maker, door knobs… No matter where you go, it is likely that someone with sickness has also been there at some point within the day or week. While this certainly heightens the risk of contracting a workplace illness— disinfecting those high-traffic areas can make a big difference.
So, wipe down your desk, your keyboard, phone, even the communal coffee pot. Contributing the those spaces that you use, and share, goes a long way.
Don’t take flu season lightly
We all think that we’re immune to the sickness, and workplace illness, everyone else faces every year. However, many (or even most) of us find ourselves bedridden at the hands of that infamous ‘something going around’. The flu, along with those pesky colds we pass around, are highly contagious. In fact, a statistic published by the NORC stated that 41 percent of Americans have not, and will not, get a flu shot. Many claimed a lack of effectiveness, and nasty side effects which keep them from participating.
However, when you’re working in group settings— you might be risking your own, or someone else’s, chance of contracting a workplace illness.
Know your limits
We all know how important it is to not miss work. However, the importance of not going to work when you’re sick— is also essential to understand. While we appreciate that you have a strong work ethic, consider the risk of workplace illness in doing so. Many of us have the capability to do some amount of work from our homes. So, if you are sick but still have the ability to work— consider asking your boss to be put on light duty, or remote work duty, until the illness passes.
Aug 31, 2025 | Workers' Compensation
One of the most important things when securing employment, is job security. We want to work somewhere where we’re valued, where we feel safe, and where we know that we can provide for our family. Because all of these things are important to us, it can be extremely difficult when you find yourself hurt on the job, or needing to take some time to help your family. Workplace injuries, and extended leave, can be frightening for a number of reasons; from the injury itself, to getting compensated, and making sure that you are not wrongfully terminated. However, in most cases, there are certain protections in place for when you face a medical leave…
Job Security and Worker’s Comp: What Protections Do I Have?
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
One way you may have some protection is through the Family and Medical Leave Act. Due to this federal law, you can have up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. This leave is for either you to take care of your own health issues, or someone in your family. While FMLA is unpaid, you can still receive disability benefits through worker’s compensation. In fact, many employer’s want you to take the FMLA leave while suffering from an on-the-job-injury. Furthermore, while using this leave an employer cannot legally fire you. So this form of leave offers a viable form of job protection when you need time away.
The catch…
Not all companies are subject to FMLA. In the case that they are, there are still some guidelines to it. First of all, you will need to have a year of employment with that company under your belt. Furthermore, you must also have 1,250 hours of work from the proceeding year with that company to qualify for these benefits.
Checking With Your Job
If you suffer from a work injury that requires time off, it’s important that you file a claim immediately. By filing a claim, you ensure your protection and compensation if your employer tries to get out of paying for your injury. Ultimately, the time off you’ll need is of upmost concern. So, when trying to decide how to go about getting the extra time you need, consider the FMLA and see if you’re eligible for it. With this act, you may be able to get the time off for recovery while also maintaining your job security.
