Amputation injuries can be horrific at the time and devastating afterward. They may require immediate life-saving treatment, significant medical intervention, long-term therapy and expensive prosthetic parts. On top of that, they will make day-to-day life more challenging and could harm your ability to earn a living.
The meatpacking trade has come under fire for the number of amputations that occur among workers. One report put it at over 17 amputations per month in plants around the country. Yet, you can lose a limb in any job.
How does workplace limb loss occur?
Some amputations are instantaneous. Others are performed by medics due to the body part being crushed in an accident. Here are some possible scenarios:
- Working as a carpenter: Someone calls you, and you look up while feeding a piece of wood into a circular saw. The distraction costs you a finger.
- Working in a loading bay: A truck reverses and pins you against the wall, crushing your arm.
- Working in construction: A stack of materials collapses, pinning your leg to the ground. By the time your colleagues can free you, the lack of blood supply to your lower legs requires that medics amputate it.
- Working in a kitchen: The waste disposal unit stops working, so you put your hand in to clear a blockage and the machine suddenly turns on.
- Working in a warehouse: Your sleeve gets caught in the rollers of the conveyor belt, crushing your hand.
- Working as a gardener: You lose your hand in a chipper, or cut off a limb with a chainsaw.
- Working as a driver: A horrific crash leaves medical staff no choice but to amputate.
Regardless of the job you do, a workplace accident resulting in amputation will require significant compensation. You may need help to ensure your employer’s insurer pays you the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to.