Missouri Workers' Compensation and Cosmetology

As a cosmetologist, you may be exposed to a variety of hazards without even realizing it.

 

Hair dressers and stylists, barbers, nail technicians, skin aestheticians, and clinical aestheticians are all exposed to workplace hazards, from simple slip and falls to lung disease. You may not be aware that your profession is causing an illness or that you have a legal right to workers' compensation to help pay for medical expenses.


If you are a salon, spa, or barber shop employee who is being treated for an illness or injury that is related to your occupation, get in touch with a Missouri workers' compensation attorney. Time is a factor when making a claim for workers' compensation benefits and certain procedures need to be followed, making it all the more important that you check with a qualified attorney first.

The Dangers Associated With Cosmetology

 

Different types of chemicals are used in the cosmetology industry, some of which are being inhaled while others are absorbed through the skin. The use of acetone, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals are all a part of a cosmetologists typical day and may be leaving disease causing toxins inside of the body. Touching these chemicals can lead to skin conditions such as dermatitis, while breathing them in may lead to lung infections and even conditions like asthma.


Hair dressers are prone to repetitive motion ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a painful condition affecting the use of the lower arm, wrist, hand, and fingers. For some it even leads to shoulder pain. This was the case with a Missouri hairdresser whose employer challenged her case for workers' compensation due to a developed case of carpal tunnel syndrome. With the help of her workers' compensation attorney, she was able to show that the disease was a result of her job and was awarded over $10,000 in compensation.

Slips and Falls in the Cosmetology Industry

 

Water and hair clippings on the floor make a salon a dangerous place to work when it comes to the incidence of slip and fall accidents. An employee who is injured by a fall is also eligible to receive compensation for their injury. Report the accident immediately to your supervisor and follow their directions for seeking medical care.

Other Types of Compensable Injury in the Cosmetology Field

 

Cuts and gashes from sharp instruments like scissors and clippers are common, as are burn injuries from curling irons and straighteners. If you have suffered a work-related injury, a Missouri workers' compensation attorney may be able to help. If your claim is denied, call The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300 for a free consultation.