Avoiding Workplace Risks as an Airport Worker
As reported by the Miami Herald, multiple TSA screening officers based at Orlando International Airport have tested positive for COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, in recent days. Over two dozen airport screening agents at Florida airports have been diagnosed with the rapidly spreading virus that is currently at the center of a worldwide pandemic. They are among over 1,000 Florida residents who were battling the virus as of late March.
While the coronavirus outbreak represents a new challenge for workers across the board, airport workers have historically faced many challenges that represent risks to their health and safety.
The Risks Faced By Airport Workers
Unfortunately, the same entity that enables the public to take vacations throughout the year to exotic locations and conduct business transactions around the world – the airport – also places the people who happen to work within it at risk. Many diverse groups of people are constantly rushing through the airport and that means that airport workers work with an ever-changing scenery that continuously presents new potential hazards.
Airport workers face workplace risks such as:
- Exposure to harmful chemicals and illnesses
- Tripping over suitcases and equipment
- Wet floors that lack appropriate signage
- Injuries due to poor lighting
- Back and spinal injuries
- Random acts of violence from disgruntled travelers
Avoiding the Workplace Risks
Every airport worker should understand that employers have a duty to ensure that the health and safety of their employees is not put in any unreasonable danger. That means that measures should be undertaken wherever possible to help keep workers safe. In addition, each worker should undertake actions to help ensure his or her own continued safety as no one wants to deal with the repercussions of an unexpected injury.
However, many workplace accidents will still occur regardless of the preventive actions that a worker strives to undertake. And when these accidents do happen, it is important to understand that you may have legal rights for recovery against a negligent party. The best way to obtain information about your individual situation is by contacting an attorney as soon as possible.
Ways to avoid a workplace injury can include:
- Attending all required trainings
- Using all provided safety equipment
- Following safety measures implemented by your employer
Have You or Someone You Love Been Injured While Working?
Regardless of the workplace environment in which you suffer an injury, sadly, simply performing your duties as an employee can cause serious unexpected injuries and set you back financially. However, after being injured, the last thing you need to worry about is where you will get the money to pay for your medical treatment while also trying to support your family. Fortunately, workers who are injured while acting in the course and scope of their job are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates have significant experience helping injured workers in similar circumstances and we are here to help you get the benefits you deserve. Begin by contacting us today to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241412616.html
https://www.payerandassociates.com/protecting-workers-from-coronavirus/
