Mining and Logging Accidents

Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Helping Employees in Massachusetts

Much like the fishing and hunting industries, the mining and logging fields are considered to be some of the most dangerous professions in the United States. Due to the extremely physical nature of the work being performed, as well as the environmental hazards that employees are exposed to, they have exceptionally high rates of injuries and fatalities. While this means that employers are often familiar with the procedures and benefits of workers’ compensation, these are also industries in which employees are frequently misinformed about the availability of benefits or even actively discouraged from seeking them. At Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C., our workers’ compensation attorneys understand the challenges that Massachusetts employees working in these industries may face. We are dedicated to fighting for your right to recovery after an injury or illness.

The Challenges of the Mining and Logging Industries

The risks faced by workers in the mining and logging sectors are numerous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, logging is currently the second-most dangerous profession in the United States, with a workplace fatality rate of 91.9 fatalities per every 100,000 workers. Likewise, the mining industry is the fifth-most dangerous profession in the United States, with a fatality rate of 38.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers and 3.8 injuries per every 100 workers.

Pursuing Compensation for Injuries on the Job

Despite these hazards, the mining and logging professions remain sources of significant job opportunities. While employees in these sectors cannot eliminate the workplace risks that they face, they can take important steps to ensure that their rights are protected in the event that they are injured on the job. Most importantly, workers must proactively notify their employers when they have experienced an injury and before filing a workers’ compensation claim. Although employees may worry about retaliation or intimidation from their employer, both of which are illegal, a failure to report the injury can result in an eventual denial of a workers’ compensation claim.

Additionally, workers should carefully document the circumstances of an injury and the medical effects that it has had. While this is easier when a worker experiences a sudden accident, it is also important to keep documentation if you believe that you may be experiencing the slow onset of a chronic disability or illness, perhaps due to the overuse of certain muscles or exposure to hazardous materials or chemicals. Even when an employee cannot precisely pinpoint the time at which an injury began, the more documentation and evidence that the employee can provide, the harder it will be for an employer or insurer to deny the claim.

Finally, employees should know that even if their initial claim for benefits is denied by their employer, they have a right to present their case and evidence in front of an impartial third party. This may take place before a staff member at the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA), or in a more formal hearing process, but in either circumstance, the employer can potentially be forced to pay benefits that were improperly denied.

Contact a Massachusetts Attorney to Pursue Benefits after a Workplace Accident

For individuals who work in high-risk, high-stakes environments, obtaining workers’ compensation can be a challenge. Especially if your employer is a large company with a big insurer on its side, you may find yourself pressured to take a lower amount of benefits than you deserve, or you may face an insurance litigation team with big pockets and an aggressive approach. At Kantrovitz & Associates, P.C., our workplace accident lawyers can advocate on behalf of Massachusetts claimants and present a case to an employer, the DIA, or a workers’ compensation judge. We are based in Boston and serve people from throughout Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Plymouth Counties, as well as the Merrimack River area. Contact us at 800-367-0871 or online to set up a free consultation.