Injured at work..

[Sk306]

So here is my situation and I'd like to know what you guys think. I work for a contracting company doing store renovations, I was told by my employer to take down track-head lights(aprox 12-13 ft above ground). So I thought sure no problem and was told to use a scaffold. Scaffolding was set up properly, but it is a poor quality scaffold and quit old, the wheels do not turn easily and fall out sometimes if there is no pressure on it. By the way this is a one level scaffold approx 6ft above the ground set up as high as possible. I was taking down the track head lighting, and having to "wheel" myself along by shifting my weight back and forth. After about 15 minutes of working and moving with no problem, I was moving onto the next light and the wheel had fallen out of the back right leg of the scaffold. As you can imagine i tipped back that way, lost my balance and fell onto a hard tile floor, from standing atleast 6ft above the ground. I apparently had injured a bruised a back muscle is what i was told by the doctor at the cheap medi-clinic. I took xrays and nothing appeared wrong other then the noticeable bruising on the surface. This happened on Tuesday, and I am still off work today. The doctor recommended i do not work until at least Friday, possibly next week depending on how I feel. Now the part I would like your opinion on is this: My boss has asked me to NOT file a workers compensation form because.
1. My injury is only a bruised muscle, i should be able to return to work next week according to the doctor i went to
2. There hasn't been an employee injury at the company for a while, and his insurance rates would shoot through the roof
3. He will pay me the same amount workers compensation does on my check
4. He's a prick

Now I'm wondering what the fuck i should do, he expects me to return to light duty work tomorrow which I'm not even sure i'll be able to. Also i doubt this is relevant but i have worked for this employer for over 1 year and am relatively young(19) to be seriously hurt from any sort of injury. My biggest worry is that if i don't claim, and re-injure a month or two down the road doing something non work related I'm fucked. Also the workers comp board (WCB) recommends i contact them immediately if my employer tries to get me to avoid making a workplace injury claim.

Well thanks if you read all that, I'd appreciate if anybody knows the legal side of this, about whether or not my employer is breaking the law by not reporting a workplace injury,

 

[Dannoo93]

U file and they can drug test u

 

[sunni]

of course hes breaking the law not reporting a work place injury, .... also it would help to know the general province or state your from before i give anymore advice because laws are different everywheere

 

[MojoRison]

From what I see, you failed in supporting the scaffold correctly resulting in a fall that injured you {shit happens, right}, your boss failed by letting you know a secret....he's hiding something.

Be smart....blackmail is no game in Vegas

 

[a mongo frog]

U file and they can drug test u

This is very true and they will. Without a doubt.

 

[Sk306]

of course hes breaking the law not reporting a work place injury, .... also it would help to know the general province or state your from before i give anymore advice because laws are different everywheere

I am in Saskatchewan, and Mojo it was one of these so I am unsure of what you mean by supporting, it was set up identical to the picture except for on the highest level possible.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/metaltech-maxi-square-scaffold-contractor-series-1000-lbs/938856
Edit after see the drug testing thing: I never had to take a pre-employment test, and was not under the influence of drugs at the workplace... and I have no drugs in my system other than marijuana, and the T3's they prescribed me at mediclinic.

 

[dannyboy602]

document everything. get an mri. follow up with your primary doctor. if it hurts don't try to bite the bullet cuz it may not go away. your health is more important than their safety record. the injury may be the beginning of a permanent problem. is your boss gonna be there for you in ten years when you are still hurting? i don't think so.......i injured my back at work. didn't follow up. just kept taking pain meds to keep working...problems became bigger. now, 5 years later after talking to a lawyer he told me i don't have a case because i waited too long, and neither will you if you do the same thing.

 

[sunni]

then chances of a drug test are limited since its canada , i wouldnt worry too much about a drug test, i suggest since its just a bruise suck it up and let him throw money at you youre not seriously injured, i work and i cut myself at work probably once a week and i dont file with workers comp , lol

 

[SSHZ]

Yes.....and then you can be fired if it comes back positive. My recommendation is to be a "team" player and happily agree to anything he requests- IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB!

 

[Carne Seca]

then chances of a drug test are limited since its canada , i wouldnt worry too much about a drug test, i suggest since its just a bruise suck it up and let him throw money at you youre not seriously injured, i work and i cut myself at work probably once a week and i dont file with workers comp , lol

Masochist!

 

[sunni]

this is not america we dont drug test people unless their lawyers, policemen, bus drivers or jobs like that, we dont drug test general labor employees, chances are they will need something to go on to follow up a drug test on him. The chances you'll be made to do a drug test is limited slim chance and if anyone in your field for the company has to do drug tests you wouldve known about it by now

 

[Sk306]

then chances of a drug test are limited since its canada , i wouldnt worry too much about a drug test, i suggest since its just a bruise suck it up and let him throw money at you youre not seriously injured, i work and i cut myself at work probably once a week and i dont file with workers comp , lol

Normally i would agree with this, and not do anything. I commonly cut myself or have minor injuries at work( happens in construction) but what I am worried about it what danny boy describes. Who knows if I tweaked a nerve or did something and it becomes much worse down the road. I had an X-ray done and was told nothing was wrong except for a bruise, but it hurts more then a bruise should and is more of a shooting pain when i move certain ways and no pain other times which from past experience of sports injuries and such is odd. Fuck this sucks i wish i never fell off =/And I'm not too worried about keeping my job as being able to perform my job in the future. He cannot fire me for reporting the injury as far as i understand, and if he were to fire me for a reason other then that it requires 2 weeks notice/ or pay equivalent to two weeks. There are also plenty of jobs for a young person of my skillset in my area so i know i could find a new one if need be.

 

[MojoRison]

I am in Saskatchewan, and Mojo it was one of these so I am unsure of what you mean by supporting, it was set up identical to the picture except for on the highest level possible.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/metaltech-maxi-square-scaffold-contractor-series-1000-lbs/938856
Edit after see the drug testing thing: I never had to take a pre-employment test, and was not under the influence of drugs at the workplace... and I have no drugs in my system other than marijuana, and the T3's they prescribed me at mediclinic.

You said " I was taking down the track head lighting, and having to "wheel" myself along by shifting my weight back and forth. After about 15 minutes of working and moving with no problem, I was moving onto the next light and the wheel had fallen out of the back right leg of the scaffold."

So you never came down to the floor and readjusted the scaffold...I'm not being a prick, it's just that WSIB is going to investigate the fall and will want to know why you fell....so if you're in any way at fault here, then you better look good and hard at the cards you're holding before the pot gets too high. IMO

 

[sunni]

Normally i would agree with this, and not do anything. I commonly cut myself or have minor injuries at work( happens in construction) but what I am worried about it what danny boy describes. Who knows if I tweaked a nerve or did something and it becomes much worse down the road. I had an X-ray done and was told nothing was wrong except for a bruise, but it hurts more then a bruise should and is more of a shooting pain when i move certain ways and no pain other times which from past experience of sports injuries and such is odd. Fuck this sucks i wish i never fell off =/And I'm not too worried about keeping my job as being able to perform my job in the future. He cannot fire me for reporting the injury as far as i understand, and if he were to fire me for a reason other then that it requires 2 weeks notice/ or pay equivalent to two weeks. There are also plenty of jobs for a young person of my skillset in my area so i know i could find a new one if need be.

he cant fire you that is true, but he can make your life a living hell, he has the upper hand he can cut your hours, be a complete asshole to you ect ect no pay raises, if you seriously think something is wrong go get a second opinion, its not like you pay for it anyways

 

[Sk306]

You said " I was taking down the track head lighting, and having to "wheel" myself along by shifting my weight back and forth. After about 15 minutes of working and moving with no problem, I was moving onto the next light and the wheel had fallen out of the back right leg of the scaffold."

So you never came down to the floor and readjusted the scaffold...I'm not being a prick, it's just that WSIB is going to investigate the fall and will want to know why you fell....so if you're in any way at fault here, then you better look good and hard at the cards you're holding before the pot gets too high. IMO

Ahh, i didn't understand what you were trying to get at, no worries i posted this to have a better understanding of what cards i am holding and to get a another opinion on it. The funny part is, I would have gotten in "trouble" from my employer if i were to get down each time i were to move a scaffold. So technically would I not be forced to "wheel" myself along unless i deemed the task unsafe/unnecessary in which case i would have to inform my boss I would not perform the task? Or is this just a losing fight in your opinion? I do not mean to get heated just information

 

[sunni]

Ahh, i didn't understand what you were trying to get at, no worries i posted this to have a better understanding of what cards i am holding and to get a another opinion on it. The funny part is, I would have gotten in "trouble" from my employer if i were to get down each time i were to move a scaffold. So technically would I not be forced to "wheel" myself along unless i deemed the task unsafe/unnecessary in which case i would have to inform my boss I would not perform the task? Or is this just a losing fight in your opinion? I do not mean to get heated just information

well either do it the right way or you risk hurting yourself sounds like your employers like to cut costs and cut safey and do thigns the quick way then the right way so then you must ask yourself is this really where you want to work?

 

[MojoRison]

See the thing is...safety!?

You were not properly outfitted with a strap harness and the scaffold wasn't properly secured, knowing this and "forcing" you to work under these conditions helps in your case, your boss seems very shady.

You say you're 19, have you worked many sites?

 

[slowbus]

On Sept 17 scaffolding fell on my neck and head.I have been out of work since.My neck is fucked up.I never went to the doctor,trying to be a company man.They don't give a shit.They still treat me like shit.I should have went to the doctors.My neck is still way bad.
At least have the guy pay for a MRI if you have issues.If its a bruise and just sore,well fuck it shit happens

 

[Sk306]

well either do it the right way or you risk hurting yourself sounds like your employers like to cut costs and cut safey and do thigns the quick way then the right way so then you must ask yourself is this really where you want to work?

You are correct, my boss does cut costs and safety for profits and like to do quantity not quality work, Also i do know i don't wanna work here forever, its just that im getting payed alright, and work with buddys so its a sweet gig 1/2 the time, the other 1/2 is spent doing bs like wheeling yourself on scaffolds and using lifts without harnesses lol. Fuck i don't know what to do, although you guys have helped. I have been on many job-sites with this company, but this is my only place of employment since the summer before highschool ended. I have worked here for aprox 1.5 years. Also the funny thing is we don't even really have safety harnesses or anything.. only thing he cares about is wearing a hard hat and thats rare.

 

[Me & My friend]

document everything. get an mri. follow up with your primary doctor. if it hurts don't try to bite the bullet cuz it may not go away. your health is more important than their safety record. the injury may be the beginning of a permanent problem. is your boss gonna be there for you in ten years when you are still hurting? i don't think so.......i injured my back at work. didn't follow up. just kept taking pain meds to keep working...problems became bigger. now, 5 years later after talking to a lawyer he told me i don't have a case because i waited too long, and neither will you if you do the same thing.

I agree.
a drug test won't help them as far as this incident goes cause that is supposed to happen immediately afterwards. who's to say you didn't smoke after the fact?
And Unless you were required to complete a safety course on scaffolding assembly & safety requirements then I believe they are responsible for insuring the equipment is assembled right, safe and properly used.
Scaffolds are not meant to be skated. you are supposed to dismount each time,before moving, & they should have been supervising that. The wheels are also supposed to be fastened so this doesn't happen. Harnesses are also required above certain heights in most cases. But When you are certified in use and safety I think most of the liability is transferred to you.