Accident is a term derived from accĭdens, a Latin word. This is the event that causes unintentional damage or modifies the usual state of events. Work, on the other hand, is a concept with several uses: in this case we care about its meaning as the activity that is carried out in exchange for economic remuneration.
An accident at work, according to Digopaul, is a contingency that occurs to a person in the framework of his work activity or while going from his home to his place of employment (or vice versa). The legislation provides protection to workers against this type of accident.
In addition to all the above, it is necessary to be clear about the situations that are considered work accidents:
-Accidents called in itinere, which are those that occur when the employee goes to or returns from his job.
-Accidents on mission. Under such a singular name are those suffered by the worker during the journey that takes him, by order of his boss, from the workplace to the place indicated.
-Accidents suffered by union delegates exercising this work, both in the place where it is carried out as well as going to or leaving it.
-The diseases that were but have been aggravated as a result of the work being done.
-Accidents suffered by properly carrying out the tasks entrusted to them in the workplace.
-The diseases that are acquired and that derive exclusively from employment.
Work accidents can have different degrees of severity. In some cases, they cause little discomfort and leave no sequelae. In others, however, they cause injuries that can be temporary or permanent. There are work accidents that even cause the death of the worker.
Given these potential effects, people who work must have coverage. This protection is usually provided through an insurer, whose payment is usually the obligation of the company that hires the worker.
In Spain, the employer is responsible for contributing, on a monthly basis, to Social Security for each and every one of its workers. In this way, what it is doing is that, in the event that they suffer an occupational accident, they can enjoy numerous rights, among which the following stand out due to their importance:
-Right to temporary disability benefits.
-Rights to the sanitary assistance.
-Right to the relevant benefit for permanent disability.
-Right to compensation in the event of death in an accident at work.
-Right to compensation for injury that is not invalidating.
Suppose a worker who works in the construction of a building breaks a leg when falling from a scaffold. This individual not only has the right to continue receiving his salary even if he cannot work due to the accident: he must also have medical expenses covered and, if applicable, receive compensation. The company that hired him, in fact, is required by law to assume these obligations. That is why it is important that workers are registered and have an employment contract: otherwise, in the event of a work accident, the employer may try not to take responsibility.
