Depending on the state, vape & smoke companies are bound by specific obligations designed to protect their employees if they are hurt on the job.
They’re not alone. Every industry has to deal with requirements like this!
The states go about enforcing this idea in different ways but most require employers to purchase an insurance policy that can help a worker who is hurt on the job and can’t perform anymore.
Many states also set minimum insurance limits that cover the cost of lawsuits from employees following a workplace injury (aka “employers liability”).
Only a handful of states (known as “monopolistic” states) administer their own mandatory workers comp program in which employers automatically participate.
This means that, odds are, you’ll have to obtain the coverage yourself from the private market.
Prior to workers’ compensation, certain common law defenses were available for employers to use in determining the at fault party during a work related injury.
Workers’ compensation laws are “no fault” laws, meaning the employer has agreed to pay the costs of occupational injury or disease according to the set limits of the law.
Even in an “Elective State”, where an employer may opt out of carrying worker’s compensation coverage for their employees, the employer could still be subject to litigation and required to pay court awarded benefits if the injured
employee can prove fault by the employer.
So, imagine opting out of worker’s compensation coverage because you live in an elective state. You get a call from your store manager alerting you that an employee was just rushed to emergency by
ambulance from your store after being injured while stacking boxes with another employee. The shelving unit collapsed and the employee was trapped and severely injured. Aside from losing a valuable asset to your business,
you have now discovered that the employee will now need surgery and could need many months worth of recovery leaving them out of work. Someone will need to cover that cost, and all fingers point to you.
Training your vape & smoke employees on safety is more imperative than ever for vape & smoke professionals. It is a simple fact that some jobs are more dangerous than others,
and the vape & smoke field may need to make sure all the safety precautions are taken in the facilities.
There are a number of risks that workers face in the vape & smoke industry, including the following:
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Slipping or tripping and falling
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Repetitive motion injuries
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Exposure to mold, pesticides, and other toxins
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Interactions between water and electricity
These are just a few of the common risk factors facing workers in the vape/smoke field. Injuries of this nature may be eligible for workers’ compensation claims and benefits. Though injuries such as these can often be easily prevented, a lack of safety training and a focus on product rather than prudence can lead to expensive workers compensation settlements. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that offers wage replacement and coverage for necessary medical care following a work-related injury on the job. This compensation is offered in exchange for the surrender of any legal right to sue the employer responsible for the injury.
As a business owner, you know there are several different types of insurance you need in order to
run your business safely and effectively. We have you covered.
To complete your coverage, here are a few additional coverages you may be interested in: