Los trabajadores solitarios corren más riesgo de lesionarse

Perhaps one of your strong qualities is that you are a self-starter. Your employer may have selected you for the job because you indicated that you enjoy working alone or you proved you need little supervision to get the job done. Like many Texas workers in a variety of professions, you are a lone worker, spending many hours of the day on your own.

As a lone worker, the thought may cross your mind that suffering an injury on the job may have devastating results. If you are in a high-risk job, such as in the oil or gas industry, an accident may mean suffering injuries that prevent you from calling for help. With no one working alongside you, it may be hours before help arrives. These are factors to consider and certainly questions to bring to your employer, whose job it is to provide adequate protection for you.

Where are you at risk?

Your risk of injury is greater when you work alone. You do not have others around you to watch out for your safety, to notice hazards you may overlook, or to come to your rescue quickly if you should suffer an injury. In certain industries, such as the oil industry, the types of injuries to which you are most vulnerable are often those that would require immediate attention to avoid catastrophic or fatal consequences. Some high-risk situations common to lone workers include the following:

• Handling cash, such as working in a convenience store at night or driving a taxi
• Working after normal business hours, such as cleaning or providing office security
• Doing field service in remote locations or confined spaces
• Meeting new customers alone off site
• Traveling alone, such as truck drivers

If your job requires you to work alone while performing high-risk tasks, you may wonder how to stay safe and gain some peace of mind that someone will respond if you are in trouble. Many employers look out for their workers by providing safety equipment specifically for lone workers. This may include individual devices or a service provider that streams data to your employee, including your location, your physical condition and even the weather.

However, special equipment that keeps you in contact with your employer cannot prevent accidents or injuries. It can only notify your employer if you need help. Suffering an injury on the job may mean medical bills, time off work and other costly consequences. If you should find yourself facing this situation, you would be wise to bring your concerns to an attorney who can assist you in fighting for the full amount of workers’ compensation and any other support you deserve.