If you work in an office environment, you probably won’t get a bee sting, snake bite, or tick bite in the workplace. On the other hand, those in the construction sector work outdoors. Along with the fresh air, sun, and other advantages come all the disadvantages of working in conditions like tall grass and undeveloped sites: exposure to nature’s undesirable hazards.
These, of course, include insect bites. With ticks and Lyme disease at the forefront of the discussion, especially during the spring, summer and fall seasons, we, in the insurance ranks, focus on the issue regarding contractors and the construction business. .
Attention all builders and contractors: what if your worker is bitten by a tick and develops Lyme disease? Will your workers’ compensation cover related damages? The answer to this is yes, it can.
Lyme disease, if not caught early, can cause great damage to the human nervous system. It can also damage the heart, brain, muscles, and joints. The dreaded disease is so serious that it has prompted health officials to issue warnings and advisories about the danger. Likewise, the insurance industry has conducted extensive research in this regard.
For those most likely to be affected, such as construction workers, there is workers’ compensation coverage.
Related coverage benefits the boss as well as the employees by:
• Paying for doctor, doctor and hospital
• Provide temporary disability benefits until permanent illness status is determined
• Pay the costs of rehabilitation and related therapy
• Pay the salary of the worker who can no longer work due to illness.
The insurance industry also guides construction companies on how to manage the risks of contracting a tick or other insect bite by educating them on:
• Inform workers about the potential severity of a tick bite and how to treat it.
• Teach workers what type of clothing to wear so ticks cannot easily reach them. This includes wearing long pants and socks.
• Obtain information on workers’ allergic reactions to tick bites and other insects so these workers can be assigned to areas where exposure is lowest.
• Have a first aid kit that includes allergic emergencies in the workplace.
A related conversation with an independent insurance agency that is familiar with exposures and knows how to assess the risks of the individual construction company can help you further understand the need for related workers’ compensation coverage.
Stay safe and informed!