The recent study found that state-level safety regulations reduced the number of worker injuries and deaths yet came at barely any measurable expense to businesses. Researchers examined 409 businesses randomly inspected by California's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (C-OSHA). Next, they looked at 409 workplaces that weren't subjected to OSHA inspections.
]]> The data showed a 9.4 percent reduction in workers' compensation claims for businesses that received a government inspection, adding up to a 26 percent reduction in workers' comp payouts over a subsequent four-year period. Researchers concluded that this netted $355,000 in saved money for each business, on average. Further, the study found no measurable average cost for businesses subjected to a random C-OSHA inspection.The Buckeye State has the equivalent of California's OSHA, known as the Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance and Labor. Ohio workplaces are also subject to investigations on the federal level by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
While studies are typically greeted with a healthy dose of skepticism, this recent work-safety study strongly evidences the financial and humanistic value of comprehensive safety regimes in any U.S. state.
If you or a loved one has been seriously harmed or killed in a work accident, contact a skilled Dayton industrial accident lawyer to discuss a variety of legal options you may have.
Source: US News Health, "OSHA's Safety Tests Protect Workers At Little Cost: Study," Steven Reinberg, May 17, 2012
]]>Heat-related illness is common, affecting thousands of Americans each year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The problem is severe enough that OSHA recently launched a program designed to educate employers and workers about the dangers of heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. The federal agency is trying to eliminate the 30 or so worker deaths that heat-related illnesses cause each year in the United States.
]]> OSHA urges workers to protect themselves, even if their employers fail to adopt proper safety guidelines to prevent heat-related illness. Roofers and construction workers have prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures - there's probably no way around it - but following some simple practices can help preserve their health and save lives.When temperatures soar in Dayton, follow these simple practices:
If you or a loved one suffered serious harm or injury because of a heat-related illness, contact a skilled Dayton workers' compensation attorney to discuss potential avenues for recourse.
Source: Fox News Latino, "How To Beat The Heat If You Work Outdoors," Tracy Lopez, May 10, 2012
]]>People whose back pain is attributable to an on-the-job injury may be eligible for workers' comp benefits; however, it is often difficult to conclusively link back pain to an injury. A claimant may need to assemble a wealth of documentation to support an application for workers' comp benefits. An experienced Dayton work accident lawyer can help with workers' comp claims and recognize opportunities to recover further damages in an injury lawsuit.
Source: Fox News, "Words Of Wellness: 'The Seven-Minute Back Pain Solution'," Loren Grush, May 2, 2012
]]>The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted a thorough investigation of the workplace accident; it recently announced that it found IHOP responsible for five serious health and safety violations associated with the chlorine gas leak and is imposing a $25,000 fine.
]]> The serious violations are:IHOP has 15 business days to comply or appeal the agency's determination.
OSHA takes the stance that virtually every workplace accident is preventable. While this belief seems unreasonable, the hard stance is necessary in many industries that have a history of placing workers in harm's way.
If you're unable to perform your job because of a work injury, contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney to discuss how you may obtain financial compensation for your medical needs and time away from work.
Source: The Charleston Gazette, "Feds cite local IHOP in chlorine gas incident," Ken War Jr., May 2, 2012
]]>OSHA can't blame its snail-paced response on government bureaucracy, either. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes six years to incorporate new rules, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) needs four years to complete similar duties.
]]> OSHA's turnaround is especially poor considering its actions are geared specifically to save lives by preventing workplace accidents. Critics point out the string of worker fatalities stemming from unsafe practices involving construction cranes. It took the federal agency roughly 10 years to create and enforce new crane safety rules. In the meantime, preventable crane accidents continued and construction workers died needlessly.OSHA isn't solely responsible for workplace injuries, however, as many businesses choose to ignore existing workplace safety rules when they should be proactive and create their own.
Regardless of whose fault it is, injured workers and their families need support when they suffer on-the-job accidents. An experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney can help a work accident victim explore all avenues for financial recovery, including third-party claims.
Source: Insurance Journal, "OSHA hit for taking too long to adopt workplace safety rules," Sam Hananel, April 23, 2012
]]>The federal agency launched an investigation of the rubber company's manufacturing plant following an Oct. 6 accident in which a worker's arm was amputated. The employee was performing maintenance on a machine when the gruesome accident severed his arm. It's fortunate that the worker lost only a limb and not his life, as processing machine accidents can quickly become fatal when an employee's clothing gets caught.
]]> Boomerang received both "willful" and "repeat" violations from OSHA. Willful violations are most often imposed when a company commits the violation while intentionally knowing or voluntarily disregarding the law's requirements. Repeat violations occur when the business was previously cited for the same or a similar violation.OSHA takes the stance that virtually every workplace accident is preventable. While 100 percent compliance all the time may seem unrealistic, workers' safety depends on it. If you've suffered a serious work accident, contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation lawyer, as many on-the-job injuries provide multiple avenues for recovering money.
Source: LimaOhio.com, "OSHA slams Botkins company after amputation accident," Heather Rutz, April 16, 2012
]]>Many of Amazon's regional warehouse workers receive sufficient compensation, including competitive wages, employee stock shares, employer matching of 401(k) benefits and the availability of comprehensive health insurance. Nevertheless, a recent Seattle Times article touched upon practices hazardous to the health of Amazon.com warehouse workers, including those in Kentucky and Ohio.
]]> Former workers at Amazon's Campbellsville, Kentucky, warehouse told the newspaper that they were pressured to classify and treat their injuries as pre-existing conditions or ailments suffered outside of the job - anything to avoid the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) injury reporting requirements.One Kentucky warehouse worker says she suffered stress fractures in both her feet because of the long days she spent busily walking the concrete floors of her workplace. Amazon disputed the woman's workers' compensation claim, even though the employee's doctor confirmed that her fractures were work-related.
Circumventing important work accident reporting laws and adopting bad faith tactics for dealing with workman's compensation claims are practices that no employer should implement - industry leader or not. If you or your spouse has been treated unfairly following a warehouse accident, contact an experienced Ohio workplace accident lawyer to explore your legal options for getting adequate compensation and fair treatment.
Source: The Seattle Times, "Amazon warehouse jobs push workers to physical limit," Hal Bernton & Susan Kelleher, April 3, 2012
]]>After someone suffers a moderate or severe burn injury, the traditional form of emergency medical treatment is intravenous (IV) fluid therapy. IV therapy helps get fluids to the burn victim's areas of trauma, so the severity of the burn injuries may be mitigated. Yet, IV therapy is generally administered only by hospitals or paramedics. IV therapy also presents the threat of infection, which is already of great concern with burn victims.
]]> A recent medical study revealed that oral ingestion of the drug CeraLyte can significantly improve burn injury victims' outlook and decrease their dependence on IV fluid therapy. In the future, perhaps industrial workplaces that expose employees to burn hazards will be permitted to store and administer CeraLyte immediately after a burn injury occurs.While the new form of treatment shows promise in improving burn injury treatment, burn victims still face a long, difficult and painful recovery. Ohio's workers' compensation system is designed to financially help all work accident victims, including those who have suffered on-the-job burn injuries.
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a work accident, contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney to discuss all potential avenues of financial compensation.
Source: sacbee.com, "Study shows CeraLyte can reduce IV therapy and save burn patients' lives," March 22, 2012
]]>The parties' litigation - spanning four years and involving two separate lawsuits - began after the former Noodles employee suffered a serious motorcycle accident in 2008. The plaintiff had just left the Noodles & Co. restaurant and was on her way to a meeting at her boss's house when the accident occurred.
]]> The employee - who lacked comprehensive medical insurance - suffered serious injuries and accumulated more than $250,000 in medical bills. Noodles denied the woman's workers' compensation claim, arguing that the crash wasn't a "workplace accident" according to workers' comp laws.The former employee was left with little choice but to sue the company. She prevailed in her suit before a workers' compensation administrative law judge (ALJ), but claims that Noodles employees lied in the proceeding.
If true, Noodles picked the wrong young woman to bully. She has filed another lawsuit against Noodles under a statute designed to ensure an employer's fairness in workers' compensation hearings. That statute requires a lofty burden of proof - "clear and convincing proof" of egregious behavior - but the recent Circuit Court of Appeals ruling allows the case to proceed on the merits.
Regardless of the final outcome, the Noodles & Co. lawsuit demonstrates that workers' comp claimants can suffer an unjust denial. An experienced Ohio work injury lawyer can level the playing field and help a claimant get the benefits he or she deserves. Most work accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so even low-income plaintiffs can afford to get the quality legal representation they deserve.
Source: Startribune.com, "Judge reinstates Noodles & Co. workers' comp suit," Dan Browning, March 22, 2012
]]>OSHA found that Verizon repeatedly ignored important safety rules such as providing workers with protective helmets and gloves, as well as adequately training technicians in how to safely work near overhead electrical cables. OSHA imposed a total of 10 citations against Verizon, which has 15 days to decide whether to appeal the findings or fix the violations and pay the $140,000 fine.
]]> This certainly isn't the first time Verizon has been accused of requiring employees to work in unsafe conditions. Nearly 50,000 Verizon workers went on strike in August 2011 for a variety of reasons, including substandard safety on the job. It's important for all companies to meet - at a minimum - federal and Ohio workplace safety laws.In Ohio, serious on-the-job injuries usually result in a workers' compensation claim; however, employees are often left undercompensated for the resulting harm. An experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney will help ensure that a claim is not only successful and receives timely attention, but that it fully compensates the victim for things such as medical bills, rehabilitation and lost wages.
Source: The New York Times, "Verizon fined $140,000 after electrocution death," Hannah Miet, March 19, 2012
]]>The man is in a 24-hour injury rehabilitation facility and will likely remain there for the rest of his life. His medical needs are too great for his father - the man's sole provider - to tend to while keeping his own job. The cost of around-the-clock medical care is extreme, as evidenced by the man's $8.9 million workers' compensation settlement.
]]> This story is a sad one, but it represents how the workers' comp system can adequately compensate a work accident victim who suffers a brain injury; however, the $9 million settlement was the result of a long and contentious legal battle. It took the victim's workers' compensation attorney three hard-fought years to secure the sum.If you or a family member has suffered a serious accident at work, it's wise to contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney. A skilled lawyer can help you assess all your legal options, including the prospect of a personal injury lawsuit.
Source: Insurance Journal, "Lawyer claims highest known workers' comp settlement in California history," Don Jergler, March 7, 2012
]]>Dailey was not only a skilled farmer, but a respected and accomplished member of the community. He served on the Washington County Fair Board for 13 years, was a member of the Farm Bureau and received the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Award. His contributions to the Marietta farming community will be missed, but not forgotten.
]]> PTOs are responsible for many agricultural accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency has performed case studies on numerous PTO accidents and regards them as one of the leading causes of severe farming accidents and injuries.If you or a spouse has been seriously injured or killed in a farming accident, it is wise to contact a skilled work accident lawyer. An experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney can help families explore all options for recovering benefits, including personal injury and product liability lawsuits.
Source: The Marietta Times, "Fleming farmer dies in work accident," Kevin Pierson, March 8, 2012
]]>The construction fire originated in the basement of the building after a welder's sparks from the first floor fell into a box of pipe insulation. Workers were ordered to evacuate the structure and nobody was injured. The fire will not delay the casino's anticipated opening in May.
]]> While job site fires rank low among common causes of construction accidents, the Cleveland blaze demonstrates one of the many threats that Ohio construction workers face on a daily basis. Ohio's workers' compensation system financially protects construction workers and their families when a job site accident results in injuries or fatalities.If you or your spouse has been seriously harmed in a construction accident, contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney to discuss all of your legal options for recovering financial compensation.
Source: Cleveland.com, "Small fire in Cleveland casino clears out workers, does little damage," Tom Breckenridge, Feb. 21, 2012
]]>A fatigue risk-management system consists of measures such as creating a fatigue-reporting system, training employees in fatigue management and education, investigating fatigue-related accidents, and recurring audits of the fatigue risk-management system to evaluate trends and areas for improvement.
]]> The goal of a fatigue-reporting program is to reduce workplace accidents while increasing job satisfaction and productivity. Worker fatigue causes slow reaction times, decreased decision-making abilities, decreased awareness and poor judgment - all catalysts to serious worker injuries.If you're suffering from a serious workplace injury, contact an experienced Dayton workers' compensation attorney to discuss your legal rights to financial compensation.
Source: Business Insurance, "Fatigue risk management can improve workplace safety," Roberto Ceniceros, Feb. 13, 2012
]]>What makes the case particularly interesting is the inclusion of photos gleaned from Facebook and MySpace that show Clement "partying and drinking." Clement tried to prevent the photographs from being admitted into evidence, arguing that they lacked relevance to his workers' compensation claim while creating the potential for bias. The court ultimately disagreed, saying that the man's claim of "excruciating pain" made the photos relevant in determining the veracity of his workers' comp application for extended benefits.
]]> Clement's case was in Arkansas, and as Ohio workers' compensation lawyers, we aren't privy to the details of the evidentiary arguments made before the judge. However, we've seen the photographs in question and they show no wild or drunken behavior. The pictures of Clement show a 27-year-old man sitting in a chair and drinking a beer, trying to enjoy time with his friends. There are no pictures of him wildly dancing on tables. We find it troubling that these mundane photos were found to be relevant to the degree of pain he is experiencing.This workers' comp case should serve as a reminder for claimants to be careful what they post on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Photos or comments about activities that seem perfectly acceptable can be used against you in your workers' compensation benefits claim.
Source: ABC News, "Court okays Facebook party photos in workers' comp claim," Lyneka Little, Feb. 3, 2012
]]>