16 Jul Injuries at Work Cross Many Occupations

When you see a great orchestra performing, do you think about them as workers? Many of the best orchestras in the world employ their musicians much as does any other employer. When these workers are injured, they have the same rights to compensation as does any other employee.

An article in TheStar.com details how a Toronto physician is urging musicians, dancers and other performers to speak out about workplace injuries. Like many other work environments, the environment that artists work in is one where the threat of being replaced is a constant and frightening one. Sometimes, performers will avoid dealing with an injury because they fear it will lessen their chances of getting future work, according to the article.

Musicians and other performers actually suffer some of the same types of injuries that you’d find in factories. Playing with an orchestra for years can permanently damage one’s hearing. Dancing for years can destroy a dancer’s feet, back and other parts of their bodies. Like workers in any other occupation, persistent injuries may mean the end of a career and, again like workers in any other industry, workers in the arts are oftentimes terrified by that prospect. Particularly if you’ve been working in one field for most of your life, it’s difficult to branch out and find other employment.

Competition

The world of performing arts is, in many ways, a great representation of the rest of the business world. Competition is very high and losing out in one instance may cause the loss of work in many other instances. Workers can be easily replaced and changing work environments tend to favor those who haven’t fully adapted to the status quo, meaning newer workers. Artists deal with a lot of pressure but at level of pressure is certainly experienced by workers in other industries, as well, who oftentimes avoid talking about injuries that they suffer.

Injuries at work need to be discussed. If you have a good employer, they’ll do what they can and what they’re required to do to accommodate the injury. If you do not have a good employer and they try to shirk their responsibilities or even punish you for being injured, you may want to contact a workers compensation attorney about the matter. No matter what field you work in, you do have rights and you can hire a workers compensation attorney to file a lawsuit if you have been wronged by an employer due to a work-related injury. An experienced workers compensation lawyer will advocate for your rights and will help you receive the compensation you deserve.