Workers' Compensation for Injuries in Client's Homes

 Posted on February 24, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

When you work in a designated workspace like an office or a warehouse, your employer can take steps to make sure employees are working in a reasonably safe setting. If your work involves visiting your customer’s homes, you are likely to be confronted with quite a few different hazardous conditions. Every customer’s home is different - some may be clean and in good condition, while others may be in dire need of repairs. Simply working in a place you are not familiar with raises the risk that you might be injured by a hazard you did not know to look out for, such as a loose step or an unsecured power cord. Fortunately, workers who are injured while carrying out their job duties in a customer’s home are generally eligible for workers’ compensation. An experienced Gilroy, CA workers’ compensation attorney can advocate for you to receive the benefits you need.

Common Dangers in Customers’ Homes 

In a perfect world, your clients would take steps to make sure their homes are reasonably safe for people who are working in them. Some of the hazards workers who routinely enter their clients’ homes may face include: 

• Mold - Mold frequently forms in attics and basements - areas workers like plumbers and electricians typically need access to. Inhaling mold particles can cause a number of respiratory illnesses or exacerbate existing conditions such as allergies or asthma. 
• Dogs - Dog lovers can easily underestimate how dangerous their beloved pet can be. The noise of repair work or having people coming in and out of the house can stress out a dog, making it more likely to bite. Excited dogs may also cause falls by jumping up on people or running around underfoot, causing people to trip.
• Slipping and tripping hazards - People are used to where things are in their own homes. As a worker who is unfamiliar with the home, you are more likely to trip over oddly placed items. For example, your customer knows her children place their backpacks in the entryway when they get home from school and is used to avoiding them. If you were not expecting anything to be on the floor there after walking in and out all day, you are more likely to trip. 
• Hazardous materials - Older homes that have not been renovated may still contain asbestos tile or insulation. Asbestos tile becomes dangerous if it has not been sealed off and is crumbling. Most homes built before lead paint was banned have lead paint. If the lead paint has been painted or wallpapered over, it is normally not a hazard. However, if you see peeling paint or wallpaper, the lead paint might be exposed. While a single short-term exposure to lead paint would not be likely to cause harm, being exposed over and over during your career can lead to serious illness. 

Contact a Gilroy, CA Workers’ Compensation Lawyer 

Cramer + Martinez is dedicated to helping workers who have been injured or made ill while performing their job duties. Our experienced Santa Clara County workers’ compensation attorneys will fight to get you the benefits you need. Contact us at 408-848-1113 for a complimentary consultation.