How Can Farmworkers Properly Protect Their Rights and Health? Find Out Here

Farmworkers are regularly exposed to harmful chemicals. Prolonged exposure to these sorts of chemicals can result in serious illnesses and diseases manifesting. Sometimes, they result in death. If you are a farmworker that has been injured through chemical exposure or machinery, then it is absolutely essential that you make a claim for compensation. Making a claim for compensation punishes negligent farmers, resulting in them introducing protective measures to safeguard against further compensation claims. This in turn protects the lives of other farmworkers.

This article will tell you how you can make a claim for compensation and protect your rights:

Chemical Exposure

One of the most common hazards faced by farmworkers is chemical exposure. For decades, farmers have used harsh and dangerous chemicals to prevent weeds from growing and to deter pests. One chemical, paraquat, can result in serious illnesses and diseases becoming manifest after exposure. One of the most harmful conditions developed by people exposed to paraquat is Parkinson’s disease. If you are asking yourself, is there a connection between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s? The answer is a strong yes. If you or your loved ones have developed Parkinson’s disease after farm work, it is possible that you were exposed to paraquat. If you suspect that you have been exposed to chemicals at work, then you need to conduct investigations and make a claim. To protect yourself on the job, make sure that you pay attention to the chemicals being used and report your employer if you need to.

Machinery Accidents

Another hazard faced by farmworkers is accidents caused by poorly maintained or operated machines. In order to protect yourself against machinery-related accidents, make sure that you never operate a machine without training. Some employers try to push their employees into using machines that they haven’t been trained to use, especially on farms, in order to cut down on time. For example, it’s very common for untrained farmworkers to be given tractors to use. You can avoid accidents and protect yourself by reporting your employer if they try to encourage you (or anybody else) to use machines without sufficient training and certification. You should also never operate a machine carelessly because this often results in deaths.

Employer Negligence

If you suspect your employer of negligence, then it is very important that you report them right away. A negligent farmer can cause significant injury to their staff. This is because the machines and chemicals that are used on farms are highly dangerous. If you don’t report your employer when they behave negligently, you are essentially giving them a pass to go ahead and continue with their reckless behavior. Any unsafe practices that you witness should be reported immediately. It is also a good idea to approach your employer and ask them why they are behaving so dangerously. If you are going to do this, then it is a good idea to document your interaction, in case your employer tries to dismiss you. If they do dismiss you, you can get compensation for wrongful dismissal.

Accumulate Evidence

Whether you have been exposed to harmful chemicals, injured by machines, or just have evidence of your employer behaving negligently, you need to accumulate evidence. Evidence will help you to make a claim against your employer. If you don’t have any evidence, then it will be difficult for you to prove your case. It is especially difficult on farms, where the only other people working with you are likely to be friends or relatives of the farmer. If you are able to get the support of other farmworkers, then this is very good. Witness testimonies are very useful when making compensation claims.

Physician Note

If you have been injured, then a physician’s note is great evidence. This article will shortly move on to receiving legal aid. Before you can receive legal aid, however, you will need to make sure that you have enough evidence to back up your claims. It’s almost impossible to make any kind of compensation claim if you don’t have evidence or witness testimony. The best way to support your claim is to acquire the photographic, video, or audio evidence. A medical certificate, which has already been covered, can also bolster your case.

Legal Support

Once you have evidence of injury or your employer’s negligence, you can go ahead and seek out legal support. An attorney is the best person that you can contact if you want to protect your rights (and the rights of other farmworkers). An attorney will sit down and interview you so that they can learn about all of your case’s nuances. Once they are satisfied that you have a case and that you will be eligible for compensation, then they will go ahead and take you on. Depending on your case’s nature, they will either contact an insurance company or take your case straight to court. Either way, their main aim will be acquiring compensation and getting you the justice that you deserve.

Taking Action

It is very important that you take legal action against the employer that injured you or put you in harm’s way. This is so that they do not have the opportunity to do it to anyone else. If you do not take legal action against them, then they essentially have gotten away with risking your life or changing it forever. This is unacceptable. It is your duty to stand up and fight for yourself and the lives of all of the other people that they have changed or hurt – or could change. Legal action is the best way to punish a negligent employer. Nothing hurts more than being sued and having their livelihood taken away from them.

Medical Treatment

In addition to taking legal action, make sure that you seek out medical treatment. You won’t be able to recover otherwise, especially if you have been exposed to harmful chemicals. Medical treatment can help you to live a normal life again. If you have been seriously injured, then there’s no way that you will be able to get through your injuries without a doctor’s help.

Farmworkers can protect their health and rights by reporting employers that have encouraged or facilitated unsafe working practices and taking legal action against them if they are injured as a consequence of negligent behavior. As mentioned already, hitting your former employer in their bank account will prevent them from wanting to cut corners or hurt anybody else ever again.