Construction Law

Workers’ Compensation Defense Tips Part 1

As workers’ compensation defense attorneys in Florida, we know that regardless of your project or the type of work you are performing, workers’ compensation is always a relevant topic pertaining to the construction industry. If you are an employer, you need to understand several of the most common ways the Division of Workers’ Compensation can issue your workplace a stop work order or a significant penalty for a violation. With countless investigations being conducted every week, is your workplace compliant?

In this two-part article, we will first focus on a few critical aspects related to workers’ compensation. These are laws that every employer in the State of Florida should be aware of. In the second section, we will discuss some practical tips that can help prevent any issues from arising at your jobsite.

Workers’ Compensation is Necessary for All Projects

There are a couple laws related to workers’ compensation that every construction employer in Florida should know. For starters, employers are required to have workers’ compensation for their project regardless of the size of their project. Whether it’s just a handful of workers performing a small task or hundreds of workers hired onto a huge project, employers need to ensure that all of the workers present at their jobsite are in compliance with the laws governed by the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

All Workers Present Need to Be Covered

Employers also need to understand that they are responsible for ensuring every worker present at their jobsite is covered. This includes those workers that are not regular, full-time employees. In other words, if you hire a subcontractor to complete an assignment and the subcontractor hires dozens of workers to assist them with these tasks, the employer is still responsible for ensuring that these workers are all covered.

This is a common problem when contractors rely on leasing companies to assist them with completing a project. The leasing company could instruct a worker to begin working on a project before the appropriate paperwork is processed. Because the contractor fulfilled their end of the paperwork, they could easily assume that the worker is covered. It’s critical that contractors verify that all of the workers on the jobsite are covered before they are allowed to begin their work.

Workers Compensation Defense

If you are an employer and you have been issued a stop work order, you should immediately contact a workers’ compensation defense lawyer in Florida. At Cotney Construction Attorneys, we are intimately familiar with workers’ compensation laws and we provide construction employers with the accurate legal advice and counsel they require.

If you would like to speak with a workers’ compensation defense 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.