Here at Goodman Elbassiouni LLP, we prioritize getting our clients the compensation they deserve when they are injured on the job. Having staff members who worked with the WSIB for up to 20 years certainly doesn’t hurt, nor does having licensed paralegals who also worked with the WSIB. Realistically, however, as we take on more and more clients, the WSIB lawyers at Goodman Elbassiouni LLP have a growing concern that perhaps not enough is being done to create a culture of safety on worksites.
In the city of Toronto and the GTA where we operate, there is a tremendous amount of development, condo related and otherwise. Because of the high volume of construction sites in the city, there are bound to be a certain number of accidents – it’s a statistical certainty. However, while we’re busy going to court with our clients, we’d like to see site managers doing a better job of promoting safety on their worksites through a variety of methods.
Because construction and development is bound to carry on through the winter, extra precautions need to be taken. At Goodman Elbassiouni LLP, we specialize in slip and fall cases as well as worksite injuries, and we find that in winter the line between the two categories often blur. Often worksites are properly de-iced, but the area surrounding the parking area is like a skating rink. Ironically, many workplace injuries in the winter occur not on the job site, but in the parking lot!
Slip and falls aside, there should be better communication between workers and management. The best way to create a culture of safety is by having a high level of engagement. If the company you work for is transparent about protocol – what to do when you get hurt – then you should have no trouble filing your claim, receiving compensation and coming back to work without a dispute. Sadly, this is not how the story goes very often. A lot of the time, the lines of communication will be frayed and confused with managers trying to cover up injuries and suppress reports.
The WSIB is not necessarily the enemy, but they handle such a large quantity of cases that it is difficult for them to see the subtler details much of the time. That’s why Goodman Elbassiouni LLP is here when you need a case assessment to determine whether or not you’ve been shortchanged.
Good communication can be crucial to preventing injuries all year round, but in the winter it is extremely important. Construction workers trying to be tough may push themselves harder than they should and suffer frostbite or hypothermia. However, if everyone is looking out for one another on a jobsite, then there is less likelihood of workers suffering such a fate.
It goes without saying that in extreme weather conditions, certain concessions should be made to keep employees healthy and warm. Some site managers seem to have a mentality that dates back to the pyramids, however, and if workers don’t invoke their rights, they may be subjected to working in harsh conditions that deny their basic legal rights.
Think for yourself, communicate with your fellow workers and never default to apathy when you see a dangerous situation, or someone pushing themselves too hard. If you suffer an accident on a jobsite, call Goodman Elbassiouni LLP today for a free consultation – we can get you what you deserve.
