When you think of workplace accidents, you probably think about construction sites, factories or maybe even repetitive injuries in an office setting. What you may not realize is that your workplace is anywhere your work takes you. For instance, if your work requires you to climb cell phone towers, your workplace is that cell phone tower.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines a workplace as “where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment.” OSHA also defines a work-related injury or illness as “resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment.”
This means if you are injured while carrying out your duties as an employee, whether it’s in an office building or on a city street, your injury will be considered work-related. There are exceptions, however:
- If you are on your work premises, but not there as an employee.
- If you prepare your own food on the premises and are injured by it, unless it’s contaminated by your work environment.
- If you get into an accident in the parking lot or company access road.
- If you are performing personal tasks not during your work hours.
- If it’s a mental illness, unless you can document that your mental illness is due to work. You would be required to present an opinion from a recognized medical professional.
If you feel you’re suffering from a work-related injury, you may want to think about talking with an attorney who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.