Every day, nearly 2,000 workers in New Jersey and across the country sustain eye injuries severe enough to require medical attention.
Eye injuries are actually common in the workplace, caused by fluid splashes, contact with foreign objects or exposure to steam or radiation. However, experts estimate that good eye protection might allow workers to avoid around 90% of these accidents. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that only around 40% of workers engaged in workplace accidents that resulted in eye injuries were wearing eye protection during the incident.
There are steps to take after an eye injury at work, but all cases are unique. Consulting with a NJ workers comp lawyer from the office of Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, can provide you with legal advice to determine what those steps are.
Eye Protection Rules By OSHA
When employees operate machinery or are exposed to environmental risks that could cause eye damage, employers are obligated by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to provide appropriate eye protection. Goggles or safety glasses with side shields are issued to workers who are exposed to chemicals, airborne particles or flying debris, but welding and other tasks that involve working close to hazardous radiation requires more sophisticated protective equipment.
Construction, mining, and manufacturing are common industries in which workers sustain eye injuries; however, office workers and medical professionals also need to be aware of the risks.
Types of Eye Injuries Suffered at Work
Looking at a computer or tablet screen for long periods of time can induce a debilitating condition known as computer vision syndrome. To help avoid lasting damage to your eyes, office workers should glance away from their computers every 20 minutes to somewhere 20 feet away. This will prevent eye strain.
Also, infectious diseases can enter the body through the eye. Whenever there is a possibility of exposure to airborne germs, doctors and nurses should wear eye protection.
Thousands of eye injuries and workers' compensation claims could be avoided annually if everyone took these simple precautions, say experts.
Benefits For Injured Workers
While most workers will make full recoveries from even the most catastrophic eye injuries, accidents can leave some workers permanently blind. When an employee suffers an injury that renders them totally and permanently disabled, they are eligible to receive benefits under the workers' compensation system.
Your treatment for an injury or illness is covered by workers' comp insurance, though you may have to see a doctor who is approved by the program and take part in an Independent Medical Exam (IME).
Total Temporary Disability
The New Jersey workers' compensation program provides benefits for medical expenses and lost wages. Temporary total disability benefits kick in after you have been out of work for more than 7 days. Compensation for lost income is calculated as 70% of your typical weekly wage up to a maximum amount established by the state. As of the year 2022, the highest weekly Workers' Compensation benefit payment in New Jersey is $1065.
In New Jersey, temporary total disability can be collected for up to 400 weeks. Until you have either been given medical clearance to return to work or have attained your maximum medical improvement (MMI), you are entitled to receive benefits.
Total Permanent Disability
If you have been out of work for 400 weeks due to a total disability and are still unable to return to your previous job, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. You may be eligible for total permanent disability if your doctor says you've reached the point of maximum medical improvement and your injuries prevent you from ever working again.
What this means is that if you suffer a persistent and severe handicap at work and cannot return to any kind of gainful employment, you may be eligible for total permanent disability benefits for the remainder of your life, or at least 450 weeks.
Partial Permanent Disability
You may be qualified for partial permanent workers' compensation if your doctor says you are permanently incapacitated despite reaching maximum medical improvement from an on-the-job injury. The length of time you can collect disability payments depends on the nature of your injury.
Some injuries are "scheduled losses" in New Jersey because they are listed on the state's schedule of disabilities.
Some injuries may still be covered by workers' compensation for partial permanent disability. For non-scheduled losses, you will receive 70 percent of your regular pay for up to 600 weeks.
Talk To a NJ Workers' Compensation Claim
If you've suffered an eye injury on the job, you should be able to file a claim for benefits. However, filing a claim and receiving benefits can be difficult processes. Hire a New Jersey workers' compensation lawyer with experience to handle your case and seek the compensation you deserve.
The law firm of Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, is committed to helping clients in both New Jersey with their workers' compensation claims. You may rely on our considerable experience to help you win your case.
Get in touch with us now to learn more about your legal options if you've been hurt or had a claim recently refused.