Types Of Workplace Infections That May Trigger Workers Compensation

Most employees understand that they can get workers compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. However, many people think that only accidental injuries are eligible for these benefits. This is not true because even infections, as long as they originated during the course of normal duties, may be eligible for the same benefits. With the help of a workers compensation attorney, you can hopefully get the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the types of infections that may trigger workers compensation:

An Animal Bites You

You can pick up an infection in the workplace if you are bitten by an animal there. For example, if a rodent bites you. There are two main ways in which an animal bite can leave you with an infection. First, you can be infected by an animal bite if the animal is sick, and the disease is one that also infects human beings; a fitting example is rabies. Secondly, you can be infected if the animal had some dangerous microorganisms in their mouth (even if they weren't actually sick).

Infected Blood Contaminates an Open Wound on Your Body

An accident that involves more than one person can easily transfer disease from one party to another. For example, if you were working in the same area and the roof caves in on you (say during a storm), it is possible for your blood to mix up with your colleague's blood via your open wounds. If your colleague had a disease that can be transmitted via blood (such as HIV), then you will also be infected.

You Are Infected by Transmissible Diseases from Other Workers

Transmissible diseases, which can pass from one person to another via skin to skin contact, body fluids or third parties (such as wet surfaces) can spread in a workplace and affect multiple workers. For example, a skin disease that spreads by contact can easily spread from your coworker to you. In some cases, the disease may leave you sicker than your colleague from whom you got it.

You Are Exposed To Diseases During Your Normal Work Duties

Some people have jobs that expose them to the risk of transmissible infections on a daily basis. Mostly, these are people who work in the health industry such as nurses, doctors, firemen, and paramedics, among others. There are usually measures in place to prevent infections, but accidents do happen and sometimes they get infected. For example, if a first responder's gloves get torn when attending to an accident victim, they may be infected by the victim's infections, especially if the first responder has fresh wounds on their hands.


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