Construction workers say productivity trumps safety

In America’s deadliest industry, construction workers say safety takes a back seat

A recent National Safety Council survey found that more than half of construction workers (58%) perceive that safety takes a back seat to productivity on their job sites.

To gauge employee perceptions about workplace safety, the NSC interviewed 2,000 American workers across 14 industries.

Of construction workers surveyed, 51% say management does the bare minimum when it comes to safety; 47% say they’d feel afraid to report a safety issue. These numbers are alarming, especially considering the fact that construction has more workplace fatalities than any other industry in the U.S.

No worker should feel stuck between losing their job, or losing their life. Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health said,“When workers can’t speak up, […]

How Much Will I Be Paid for Lost Wages?

As Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers, we often find that one of the most common problems related to workers’ comp is how little people know about it. If you’ve never been hurt at work before, the claims process can be confusing. You’ll probably have lots of questions about how and when you can recover your lost wages.

One of the most common ones is: How much will I be paid for my lost wages?

If you suffer an injury on the job that prevents you from being able to work, workers’ compensation insurance exists to cover your medical bills and your wages until you can work again. In this way, workers can recover their losses without resorting to a lawsuit. Just how much you will receive, however, can vary.

Typically, you’ll receive compensation benefits for 2/3 (or 66.6%) of your average weekly wage. […]

The Most Dangerous Jobs in America, 2016

Some of the most dangerous jobs are the ones that our communities depend on the most. We are thankful to those who put their own safety at risk to help others. As we look ahead to Labor Day Weekend, we’re thinking of the laborers with the most dangerous jobs in the U.S.

Last month, CareerCast released the 2016 list of the most hazardous jobs in America.

Is your job in the top 10?

Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs

1. Construction Worker
2. Correction Officer
3. Emergency Medical Technician
4. Farmer
5. Firefighter
6. Nursing Assistant
7. Police Officer
8. Taxi Driver
9. Truck Driver
10. Veterinarian

Not surprisingly, construction tops this year’s list again. In physically demanding industries like construction, injuries are not uncommon.

Similarly, careers involving driving are particularly risky. […]

Precarious Situations: Why Ladders Cause So Many Injuries

Do you use a ladder at your job? Whether it is just once in a while or as part of your everyday job duties, one mistake can result in a serious fall.

Falls are among the most common types of work-related injuries, and many of these occur on step ladders, expansion ladders, straight ladders, and combination ladders. Approximately 90,000 people are treated in the emergency room for ladder-related falls each year, and almost 1,000 of those falls are fatal. Even if you are comfortable getting up on a ladder as part of your job, accidents can happen to anyone.

Jobs with the Highest Risk for Falls

Not surprisingly, the occupations most at risk for a fall from a ladder include roofers, painters, electricians, construction workers, service and repair technicians, and other skilled trades that require physical labor, climbing, and lifting. However, […]

Follow Up: Supreme Court Hears UPS Pregnancy Discrimination Case

Wednesday, the Supreme Court finally issued an opinion on the pregnancy discrimination case brought against UPS, siding in favor of former employee Peggy Young.

At the end of last year, we blogged about  Peggy Young, the former UPS driver who brought a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against United Parcel Service nearly ten years ago.  When Young became pregnant with her third child, her doctor advised her that she should not lift more than 20lbs. Because her job duties required her to sometimes lift up to 70lbs, Young requested light duty assignment, which was available for other employees who could not perform their normal job duties due to a work injury, disability, or suspension of their Dept. of Transportation certification. Her request was denied and placed on unpaid medical leave.

Young sued under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act which says, “women affected by pregnancy, […]

Working multiple jobs increases risk for injury

Do you have more than one job?

Approximately 14 million Americans do. According to a recent study by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute, people who hold more than one job are at an increased risk for workplace injuries. The LMRI study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that working multiple jobs increases the risk of injury (both at work and not at work) by 27%.

The researchers looked at 15 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the Census Bureau and compared information on  American adults who held multiple jobs and those who only held one. They discovered that the 14 million people working more than one job were 27% more likely to suffer an injury.

There are a few reasons for this increase in risk. Inexperience  and lack of training accounts for a higher risk of work-related accident and injury, […]

What Not to Do After a Work Injury

We’ve already shared  a few pieces of advice about what you should do if you are injured at work. But, it’s just as important to know what NOT to do in a workers’ compensation case. Here are some key things to make sure you avoid:

1. Don’t delay. The sooner you report your injury to your employer, the better. In Pennsylvania, the law requires that you notify your employer of a work-related injury within 120 days of the incident. But, it is in your best interest to report what happened immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor. What may seem like a minor incident can cause complications down the road, so it is best to have it documented.

2. Don’t lie. In  a workers’ compensation case, it is crucial that you are honest with your employer and your doctor about your injuries and how they occurred. […]

Pregnant workers treated worse than drunk drivers? Discrimination case goes to Supreme Court

Workplace discrimination, in one form or another, is, unfortunately, a common occurrence for women in the workforce today.  The most recent case to make national headlines involves former United Parcel Service driver Peggy Young, who will take her pregnancy discrimination case to the Supreme Court later this week.

When Young, a resident of Maryland, became pregnant with her third child, she was instructed by her doctor not to lift more than 20 lbs. She requested light duty assignment, as was offered to her company’s employees who had been injured on the job or affected by other types of disability and work restrictions. Young was denied, and placed on unpaid leave.  She lost her health benefits and seven months of wages.  Young sued her employer for pregnancy discrimination, arguing that she should be eligible for the same accommodations afforded to non-pregnant employees with similar limitations. She lost twice, […]

Personal injury lawyer warns of 10 deadliest jobs and other unsafe work environments

Thousands of workers die from injuries inflicted at work each year. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), 4,405 workers died on the job in 2013. Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA said that “making a living shouldn’t have to cost you your life. Safe jobs happen because employers make the choice to fulfill their responsibilities to protect their workers.”

MSN News recently published America’s 10 Deadliest Jobs. The job with the highest fatality rate according to that list is Loggers. This is the 2nd year that loggers have topped the list of fatal jobs.

Here is the complete list of America’s 10 Deadliest Jobs, 2013
1. Logging Workers
2. Fishers And Related Fishing Workers
3. Aircraft Pilots And Flight Engineers
4. Roofers
5. Refuse And Recyclable Material Collectors
6. […]

OSHA tightens standards on workplace injury reporting

Last month, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strengthened the rules that required businesses to report serious workplace injuries and fatalities. Their goal is to uncover workplace hazards faster and fix problems sooner by requiring companies to report more on-the-job injuries to federal regulators.

According to OSHAs revised safety rule, effective January 1, 2015, companies will be required to report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses within 24 hours. Current laws only require employers to report in-patient hospitalizations if three or more employees are affected, and amputations and eye losses do not have to be reported. Remaining unchanged is the requirement that employers report work-related fatalities within eight hours.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary 2013 workplace fatality data found that 4,405 workers were killed on the job in the US in 2013. That translates to an average of 85 deaths per week or 12 deaths every day. […]