Finger injury is very common in the workplace. As per the record of NHS, it is found that one in 50 employees experience pain in the muscles of their fingers due to continuous work at the workplace. There can be various types of finger injury which can range from a minor cut to the loss of one or more finger. Now, the rule of law is that if you suffer any kind of injury which mainly happened due to third-party negligence then the third party has to compensate all the cost that is involved in the treatment. As such, if a worker’s finger is injured at the workplace which takes place due to the nature of the work then the working company have to provide compensation if the worker claims for the finger injury. However, for that, it is necessary that worker knows everything about the finger injury at the workplace. Let us first know the different types of finger injury that can occur at work.
Types of Work Related Finger Injuries
Finger injuries are very common in the workplace and this mainly happens due to a number of work-related injuries. Some of the most common types of finger injuries that may take place in the workplace are as follows:
- Gamekeeper’s Thumb: This type of finger injury is also called as Skier’s thumb. Gamekeeper’s injury occurs when the thumb of the worker is pushed away that tears the muscles in between the bones of the thumb. This is a serious type of finger injury and it sometimes requires surgery as well.
- The Hook of Hamate Fracture: This is another kind of finger injury that generally takes place at the time when the worker strikes the ground with some kind of sharp and hard objects such as pole driver. In such case, the worker may suffer a fracture in their finger. This type of finger injury is mainly found in the lower part of the palm. In some severe case, this type of finger injury requires surgery.
- Finger Dislocations as a Finger Injury occurring at the Workplace: This type of finger injury mainly takes place at the base of the thumb and fingers. In case the muscles of the finger are torn very badly due to finger dislocation, then it may require surgery of the finger.
- Amputated Fingers: This type of finger injury may mainly happen when accidents take place in the manufacturing plant for using various types of sharp or heavy equipment such as hammers, electric saws, etc.
- Finger Fractures as a Workplace related Finger Injury: This type of finger fractures may mainly happen when the muscles and joint capsules are attached. This type of finger injury is commonly caused when a hammer strikes the finger of the worker. Depending on the seriousness, surgery may become necessary.
Apart from the above, some other common work related finger injurie also involve: Ligament sprains, tendon strains, nerve injury, lacerations, fingernail injury or nailbed injury.
How An Employee Can Deal With The Finger Injury At The Workplace?
As per the act of the parliament, the employers are required to provide full safety to their workers at the workplace. In case a worker suffers a finger injury or any kind of injury and if according to the worker the injury happened due to any fault of the employer then he has the full right to claim compensation of the finger injury from his employer. Many times it is found that the employers do not want to take responsibility for the compensation and deny that the accident took place due to their fault. If the employer denies paying the compensation for finger injury at workplace then the worker can file a case against his employer. However, before that, it is very important that the worker needs to follow certain rules while claiming the compensation for the injury. For example, it is very essential that the worker reports to the employer as soon as the accident takes place or at least within 15 days of the incident. Apart from that, it is essential to keep the record of the medical treatment and medication, taking the CCTV footage which proves that the accident took place at the place of work.
If you have sustained a work related finger injury, you should contact an experienced workers compensation lawyer in your area and discuss about your legal rights as well as likelihood of the compensation amount for work related finger injury. The range of compensation is dependent on a number of factors that include your medical treatment, restrictions and medical documentation.
Conclusion
The worker can get various types of compensation benefits for finger injury at workplace in case it is the fault of the employer. However, it totally depends on the seriousness of the finger injury. The employer has to provide temporary or permanent benefit to their employees. As for example, in case of temporary disability, the employer has to make the payment of the medical bill and other expense for a limited period of time until the employee gets cured. However, if the employee suffers permanent disability then the employer is bound to provide medical expense throughout the life of the employee.
- National Health Service (NHS) – Common Workplace Injuries: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/common-health-questions/how-can-i-avoid-injury-at-work/
- United States Department of Labor – Workers’ Compensation: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workcomp
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Workplace Injury, Illness, and Fatality Statistics: https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Workers’ Compensation and Claims: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/workers/claims-and-return-to-work
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) – Workers’ Compensation: https://www.lsc.gov/issues/workers-compensation
- Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta – Claims Process: https://www.wcb.ab.ca/claims/claims-process.html
- California Department of Industrial Relations – Workers’ Compensation: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/worker_information.html
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) – Understanding the Claims Process: https://www.wsib.ca/en/claims/understanding-claims-process
- New York State Workers’ Compensation Board – Benefits Overview: https://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Workers/BenefitsOverview.jsp