Not many jobs are as fulfilling as working with animals. Being responsible for the well-being of these helpless creatures comes with a sense of satisfaction that you’ll hardly find elsewhere. However, there are some risks attached to these jobs, especially when the zoo is full of wild animals. Zoo employees must learn about these risks, available insurance coverages, and employer responsibilities.
Insurance Coverages For Zoo Employees
In the United States, zoo employees are usually entitled to two primary forms of insurance coverage. These are workers’ compensation and group health insurance. The worker’s compensation plan offers coverage for injuries, deaths, and illnesses directly related to the job at the zoo. On the other hand, the Group Health Insurance plan is for medical coverage for all employees, irrespective of whether the illness is job-related or not. Your Employment lawyer around San Diego will be in the best position to advise you when choosing coverage. However, before meeting a lawyer, you should understand the job risks.
Zoo-Specific Risks
As a zoo employee, the most common risks you will face will come from animals. You will always be at risk of getting attacked by a rogue animal. Apart from the obvious scratch and bite attacks, there is also a risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases. Depending on your department at the zoo, you might also be exposed to equipment and chemical hazards.
Learning about these risks will not just help you decide if you want the job but also educate you on how to protect yourself. The insurance coverage you choose should be comprehensive enough to cover these basic risks so you don’t find yourself in a difficult situation in the event of an accident or job-related illness. Read the fine print on the insurance coverage to learn about the premiums, deductibles, copay, and terms and conditions. Choosing a plan that offers the most protection should be your goal. After picking coverage, you need to find out what the employer and employee responsibilities of the zoo are so you can plan accordingly.
Employer Responsibilities
The owner of the zoo management is responsible for the overall safety and well-being of the entire establishment. They are responsible for providing a safe and comfortable environment for everyone working in the zoo. While the specifics of these responsibilities may vary across the board, they usually involve employee training, dangerous animal handling, and safety guidelines. The employer should create an emergency response plan for possible job-related incidents like animal attacks or slip and fall injuries. Employers are also expected to offer their workers some sort of insurance coverage.
Employee Responsibilities
While the employer has a role to play, the employee also has a role at the zoo beyond their regular work. Every employee is responsible for adhering to the safety protocols put in place by the employer. They must report incidents as soon as they occur, not just for their own safety but also for everyone within the zoo, including visitors.
Conclusion
Before you accept a job at the zoo or anywhere else, you need to consider the insurance coverage you will get. The higher the job risk, the more comprehensive the coverage.