Workers' Compensation

OSHA Cites Connecticut Chemical Manufacturer for Serious Violations of Workplace Safety Standards

Published on: February 15, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Employee exposure to and lack of protection from highly flammable and potentially fatal chemicals has caused the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to cite and fine a Connecticut chemical manufacturer.

Phoenix Products Co. violated 15 requirements of workplace safety regarding chemicals and will be charged with a $61,600 fine.

The company produces both swimming pool chemicals as well as chemicals found in nail polish remover. Their processes deal with highly combustible substances such as acetone and isopropyl alcohol 99 percent that could easily put workers’ lives in danger. For this reason, OSHA has a required process safety management program that Phoenix Products Co. failed to provide.

Massachusetts Roofing Company Cited for Second Time by OSHA

Published on: February 12, 2016 | O'Connor Law

A Massachusetts roofing contractor is facing major fines for yet again placing its employees in potential life-threatening working environments.

The guilty party, A S General Construction Inc., has had repeated offenses of failing to provide their workers with both the fall protection and proper safety training that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires.

This time, the company had employees working on an unguarded roof 26 feet from the ground, connected only by an incorrectly crafted ladder-jack scaffold.

OSHA and Red Cross Extend Partnership Promoting Workplace Safety & Preparedness

Published on: November 22, 2015 | O'Connor Law

Extending a decade long partnership, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Red Cross will continue to work together to further decrease the chance for workplace injury as well as safeguard workers from any exposures that could be life-threatening.

The partnership has been extended another five years, and the two organizations will shift their attention toward “providing workers and with information and training resources on emergency preparedness, disease prevention education and first aid,” said an OSHA Trade news release.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels stated that OSHA looks forward to the continued alliance so that workers can continue to have the resources that will keep them safe and healthy while on the job.

Wearable Technology Could Improve Workplace Safety & Quality of Life

Published on: November 6, 2015 | O'Connor Law

A breakthrough in wearable technology could lead to the improvement in workers’ quality of life as well as lower workers’ compensation claim costs.

Zack Craft, the vice president of Rehab Solutions and Complex Care Education at One Call Care Management, hopes that wearable technology will “help prevent workplace injury, keep routine injuries from migrating into more serious problems and improve the long term health status and independence of those who have serious injuries.”

Some features of the technology would include censoring the worker’s posture, monitoring the extent of their exercise and form, keeping track of whether or not equipment is being utilized properly, and even potentially allowing paralytics to walk again with the use of an exoskeleton awaiting FDA approval in 2016. The goal, Craft added, is for the wearable technology to help people evade re-injury or further complications. It also seeks to give back a significant amount of control to people who have already sustained severe injuries.

Construction Accident Causes Injury in State College

Published on: October 17, 2015 | O'Connor Law

A work-related accident in State College sent a construction worker to the hospital last month with burn injuries.

Ronald Myers of Penfield, a 56-year-old construction worker, was working on the second level of the Fraser Centre when the accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. He was pouring concrete when his equipment hit an electrical line.

The Fraser Center is a 13 floor, $50 million development where up to 32 hotel rooms condominiums and 158 hotel rooms will be under construction through next summer.

Work-caused Sickness Can Get You Workers’ Compensation

Published on: October 8, 2015 | O'Connor Law

Work-caused illnesses and diseases can be argued as grounds for workers’ compensation.

Last month, a Bedford, Texas firefighter won a two-year dispute over whether or not he was entitled to workers’ compensation. The firefighter, Keith Long, suffers from stage 4 colon cancer, a disease he attributes to years on the job where he has been subjected to large amounts of carcinogens.

The Texas Municipal League claimed that firefighting is not proven to cause colon cancer according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, so ordinary life diseases should not be covered by compensation. Instead, the compensation is reserved for work-related injuries only.

Texas Worker Buried Alive

Published on: August 11, 2015 | O'Connor Law

Every day, many blue collar workers wake up early in the morning to provide for themselves and their families. Many of these men and women work long hours to earn a living. People who are working hard during the week have a right to be safe and unharmed while performing their jobs. Unfortunately, some workers still are subjected to unsafe working conditions at their jobs. Some people are severely injured and even killed while working on the job due to hazardous working environments.

A construction worker from Texas was injured in July of 2015 after being buried in an 8 foot trench below ground where he was working. This incident caused this worker to be severely injured and hospitalized. The trench collapsed again shortly after the man was rescued from it. The employer failed to keep their employees safe. The construction company of the injured worker employs 150 people. Many other workers from this company could have been hurt or killed because of these unsafe working conditions and lack of procedures. This company is responsible for any safety violations that occur in their place of business. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, trench collapses and cave-ins are preventable. This construction company has apparently been cited for at least 16 safety violations and fines up to $400,000.

People working in dangerous and unsafe environments should be taken very seriously. Incidents like one in Texas can cause severe injury and even death. All workers should be safe at all times when performing their jobs. Serious injuries that people obtain from these incidents can affect a person’s work and daily life. At O’Connor Law, we want all workers to be secure when they enter their work place. We believe companies that do not follow the proper safety procedures to make their employees safe like the one from Texas should be fully responsible for their actions. You should call us for a free case review if you have been involved in injuries such as this. We are here to fight and protect your rights.

Chemical Exposure At Work

Published on: May 28, 2015 | O'Connor Law

A huge part of people’s lives is spent at work. So there is a good chance of being injured at work. To prevent injury, one should follow company policies and OSHA safety standards. They should also wear proper safety gear when required and be properly trained at what they are doing. Even after being careful and following safety rules, there is still a possibility of a workplace injury. Accidents can happen in an instant or even over time.

In Washington, a woman filed a claim for workers’ compensation with the Department of Labor and Industry. The claim was for chemical exposure during the course of her employment with The Boeing Company. The exposure permanently aggravated her preexisting asthma, and she needed ongoing medical treatment as a result of these combined injuries. The department determined that the combined effects of the claimant’s preexisting asthma and the aggravation of this condition during her Boeing employment rendered her permanently totally disabled.

How did she know the chemical exposure would aggravate her asthma? She might not have known she was being exposed. Many chronic illnesses occur long after exposure has ended and are generally not identified as work-related. Because of this it is important to have a lawyer on your side. You need an experienced lawyer who understands workers’ compensation law, a lawyer that will fight for the rights of the injured. Call our office for a free consultation and case review.

DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB After a Work Injury

Published on: April 9, 2015 | O'Connor Law

One of the easiest ways to lose your workers’ compensation benefits and any chance of a settlement is for the injured worker to quit their job. Many people do not think this will affect their benefits.

Many people who are on light duty work or are not working at all because of their injury get sick of dealing with the stress and pressure they are receiving from their management and they quit. This is one of the worst mistakes you can make. You can lose all coverage and chances to recover anything from your case.

If you are under pressure or feel you aren’t being treated fairly by the management at the company, you should speak to a certified workers’ compensation specialist about how you can handle the situation, or how they can help you as a barrier between yourself, your employer and their insurance company.

Springtime Construction Accidents

Published on: April 2, 2015 | O'Connor Law

With the weather warming up many of us know that this means construction season is starting back up. While for a lot of residents across PA this means traffic backups and a lot of loud noise, for some of the hardest working people in our state this means they will be getting back out to work in the outdoors repairing and building our roadways, buildings and other large scale projects.

With this time of productivity comes some inherent dangers for our men and women in construction. Road crews will be working just a few feet away from drivers, building crews will be walking the tops of structures, and many other dangerous situations will take place that are unfortunately necessary for the work to get done.

Common on the job injuries during the summer months include heat stroke, dehydration, car accidents, falls and more. If you do work outdoors, remember to stay hydrated and stay cool as dehydration and overheating can lead to slower reaction times, loss of balance and other difficulties that can make you more likely to become injured at work.