Staten Island Workers' Compensation Law Blog

For many employees in New York, working can actually stimulate positive feelings and boost mental health. However, for others work can be the cause of a variety of mental health issues. Negative working conditions can lead to anxiety and depression, which can also increase the chances of physical injuries. To avoid workers' compensation claims due to mental health, employers should integrate interventions that promote, rather than ignore or belittle, mental health.

According to the World Health Organization, the workplace can be the source of a number of risk factors that can lead to decreased mental health. The risk factors may include:

• Inadequate support for employees
• Poor management and leadership
• Unclear organization and communication
• Insufficient policies regarding safety and health
• Overwhelming workload or inflexible hours
• Psychological harassment

While most employees in New York go to their jobs every day and do not have to think or worry about getting assaulted, there are certain occupations in which assault may occur. When it does, workers can collect workers' compensation benefits for injuries they sustain.

According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, driving a bus can be a very hazardous job that can result in numerous types of assault and attack. This is especially true in areas of bigger cities where there are low-income populations. Most incidences occur when someone tries to get away with not paying the fare and the driver confronts the fare evader. The types of assaults that have occurred include being spit on, having hot liquid thrown on them and getting punched, kicked and even stabbed. As a result, each incident cost Metrobus almost $50,000 in workers' compensation and $6 million of taxpayer money. 

The cost of losing sleep at night can play out in dangerous ways at work. Not getting enough sleep and/or quality sleep has proven effects on physical and mental functioning. When this becomes a habit, the likelihood for mistakes and injury significantly increases.

Studies have shown that sleep deprivation also dramatically raises the chances of accident-related deaths. It is hard to argue against the data and personal experiences when comparing a day at work with good sleep versus a day at work with bad sleep.

Cranes are one of the most essential tools in New York construction sites. They are also some of the most dangerous machines to operate. Construction workers on site and passing pedestrians can be at serious risk of injury from fallen materials or the crane itself. Here are a few key aspects about the work environment to check.