15 Jul Worker’s Compensation for Painters
Being a painter sounds like a pretty “cushy” job, right? Standing around all day in sloppy clothes, waving a brush around in order to transform a wall from eggshell white to antique white can not be that difficult, right? If you are reading this and nodding your head in agreement, chances are that you are not a full-time painter. Painting is a physically demanding job- one that requires heavy lifting and stressful repetitive movements, with frequent exposure to many different chemicals. All of these factors increase the risk of a painter experiencing some kind of work-related injury during their career.
There are many safety precautions that a painter can take- wearing a mask, goggles, and gloves when dealing with chemicals; using ladders and step stools properly; taking a break to rest tired hands and shoulders. All of these are wonderful and practical steps to take, but even with the best precautions, accidents can and will still happen. Oftentimes, when those accidents occur, an employee becomes injured to the point that they cannot work for a period of time or can no longer work a particular job.
If an accident did occur and resulted in an injury to your employee, worker’s compensation would go into effect and do one of two things. First, it would provide for your employee’s medical care and cover a portion of their salary during the time that they are not able to work. Second, in many cases, providing worker’s compensation to your employee enacts an agreement that your employee cannot sue you for damages related to the injury. In short, all affected parties are financially protected in some form or fashion when an accident and injury does occur.
Now, you know that being a business owner is not for the faint of heart, especially when it involves finances. There are many costs associated with owning a business, and sometimes a nagging little voice says to you, “Well…I don’t really need this, do I?” The answer, when it comes to worker’s compensation, is always yes! Not only is it simply a good idea to have financial protection in place, most state governments require you to carry worker’s compensation insurance if you want to operate a business at all. Requirements vary from state-to-state, but most employers can choose to purchase policies from either a government, a trade union, or a private underwriter to obtain the required coverage.
Worker’s compensation insurance is not an inexpensive investment, but as an employer of painters or a self-employed painter, it is a vital investment that will provide financial protection for both you and your employees. Take a moment today to schedule a consultation with your insurance agent today. As a responsible business owner, you will want to act quickly so that you can begin receiving coverage as soon as possible!
All information is general in nature and is intended to provide guidance only. It is up to you to request specific coverage options, the agency and agent do not bear this responsibility. Always read the policy if there is a questions about coverage or a claim. If any information herein should conflict with your actual policy’s specific language, the policy language will be controlling.
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