Employment Law
Is Your Construction Business Covered? Part 2
Injuries on the jobsite can lead to a variety of issues, including lawsuits, OSHA citations, and a stop-work order in Florida. If a construction firm overlooks the need to obtain workers’ compensation coverage, this can bankrupt a business. In the first part of this two-part article, we explained what exactly “workers’ comp” covers, including medical expenses, employee wages, and lawsuits.
In this part, we will explain how partnering with a construction law firm can benefit your business. If you have received notice to cease work on a project because of a workers’ compensation issue, consult a stop-work order attorney in Florida today.
Understanding How Workers’ Compensation Laws Work
In Florida, if your construction business has one or more employees (this includes the owner of the business), coverage is required. If you want to learn more construction business classifications, please visit the Florida Administrative Code & Florida Administrative Register website.
If you own a Florida-based business but perform work in other states, it’s critical that you understand the workers’ compensation laws in each individual state you work in. This is why many construction professionals consult a construction attorney. Most states require workers’ compensation coverage, especially in construction, so it’s always best to be proactive and seek coverage regardless of where you are working.
Avoiding a Bad Situation
While a construction law firm can provide you with valuable legal advice in litigation, a construction attorney can help protect your business to avoid costly litigation. Here are a few preventive measures construction businesses can take to mitigate workers’ compensation issues:
- Educate Your Workers: Although you can’t completely eliminate accidents from occurring, you can greatly reduce their likelihood by educating all of your employees on safety issues. Whether it’s clearly marking hazards, safety training on operating heavy machinery, first aid training, or ensuring everyone on the site is wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), there are a variety of ways you can reduce the chances of an accident.
- Safety Audits: It’s important that contractors don’t focus so much on their job tasks that they overlook the risk assessment stages of a project. This is especially crucial before beginning work on a project. A stop-work order attorney in Florida can help you not only resume work but also conduct third-party safety inspections of your jobsite so that you can ensure your construction site is safe and OSHA-compliant.
If you would like to speak to a stop-work order attorney in Florida, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.