A career in education can be incredibly rewarding. Teachers help spark curiosity and passion in students. In some cases, adults come back to the schools they previously attended looking for teachers to thank them for their support and care.
Unfortunately, teaching has some workplace risk. There are a host of potential issues that could put a teacher in the hospital and force them to seek out workers’ compensation and salary replacement benefits. What are some of the leading workplace safety concerns for teachers in California?
Student violence
Reports of students becoming physically violent toward teachers have been on the rise in recent years. In fact, younger students seem to be increasingly aggressive. Recent research has shown that elementary school teachers report higher levels of violent interactions than those working in high schools. A single punch to the head could potentially end a teacher’s career if it results in a traumatic brain injury. Violence can also traumatize a teacher, making it difficult for them to return to work.
Repetitive stress
Regardless of how a teacher educates, they probably perform the same tasks over and over. A gym teacher may spend the entire day helping students learn how to throw a softball. An algebra teacher may write on an overhead projector or dry erase board repeatedly. Over many years, those repetitive job tasks can do real damage to the human body. Teachers can develop conditions ranging from back injuries to carpal tunnel syndrome because of their repetitive job functions.
Pathogen exposure
Technically, illnesses acquired at work are not injuries. However, they are job-acquired medical conditions that can make someone eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Being in close contact with numerous students day after day can result in teachers contracting conditions ranging from pertussis to influenza. Those illnesses can force a teacher to take a leave of absence and might potentially generate significant medical expenses.
Teachers are also at risk of falling in the classroom or injuring themselves using various tools. Learning about the benefits systems in place for California educators, including salary replacement benefits that last for one year and workers’ compensation medical coverage, can be helpful. Teachers who get hurt or sickened on the job shouldn’t have to give up their careers and their income as a result of their work-related harm.