Articles Posted in Workers Comp

Recently, we wrote about increasing OSHA fines for workplace safety violations. The goal of higher fines is to make sure the fines actually act as a deterrent to discourage employers from allowing worker safety violations to persist. The fines, however, are paid by companies. Sometimes, individuals in charge of an organization still don’t do what they are supposed to and they face limited personal risks if they let workers down. OSHA prosecutions Van Sant Law

This could, however, be changing. While it has long been possible to bring criminal prosecution for willful failure to protect employees and for gross negligence that causes serious injuries or fatalities, prosecutions have been few and far between. These prosecutions are about to become more common. Safety News Alert has announced the federal government’s intention to step up prosecutions and bring more criminal charges when OSHA violations occur, particularly if there was a willful violation and a fatality occurred.

Criminal penalties can punish those who fail their workers, but employees injured on the job and surviving family members of workers killed at work will still need to make workers’ comp claims to get money and benefits to cover work injuries. An Atlanta work accident lawyer can provide legal assistance to those who need help getting money after an accident in their workplace.

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Car accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. A good portion of these accidents happen at work. Workplace accidents caused by employees driving on-the-job cost employers in excess of $47 billion each year, according to Safety BLR. Loss of productivity is one reason, as employees miss 1.6 million workdays because of injuries from on-the-job collisions. Medical bills and other costs also add up. atlanta work injuries Van Sant Law

Because there are so many workplace car accidents, and because employers have to face enormous costs and losses, preventing of on-the-job collisions is very important for companies. The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) wants to help. NETS hosts an annual Drive Safely Work Week each year. This year, it will be held October 3-7, according to Safety BLR.

Hopefully, with more training, workplace crashes can be reduced and injuries prevented. Some accidents are, however, likely to continue occurring. When car accidents happen on-the-job, injured workers should consult with a workers’ comp lawyer in Atlanta to find out what courses of action are open to them for recovering compensation for losses.

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Construction jobs can be dangerous, as there are many hazards on worksites. As a result of the high risks associated with this professional, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicates that 19.3 percent of the 4,175 worker deaths in private industries in 2012 happened in the construction field. Unfortunately, more than half of these accidents had four common causes, which OSHA has dubbed the €˜Fatal Four.worker-on-the-staging Van Sant Law

If the “Fatal Fourtop causes of deaths could be eliminated, more than 400 worker lives could be saved every single year. Employers and employees need to know of these top four causes of injury and do everything possible to prevent accidents and deaths from occurring. If a death does happen, victims need to speak with an Atlanta construction accident lawyer about their rights.

Preventing Construction-Site Deaths Due to the Fatal Four

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Workers in the pesticide industry do the important job of mixing, loading and applying pesticides. Like all employees, these workers are entitled to a safe job environment. They are entitled to know the risks of the chemicals they are using and their employers must take appropriate safety precautions to prevent exposing them to hazardous chemicals that could harm their health. pesticides Van Sant Law

Unfortunately, some workers are being exposed to health risks when doing their jobs in the pesticide industry. The Environmental Protection Agency has released a new assessment warning of the dangers associated with chlorpyrifos and has indicated that the agency will take steps to try to diminish the risks that this chemical presents to workers.

If you or someone you love was exposed to dangerous pesticides or to any toxic or hazardous chemicals at work, you have certain legal rights. Contact an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer today to learn how you can make a benefits claim to have your medical treatment expenses and other losses covered.

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According to Safety News Alert, up to 70 percent of workplace injuries go unreported. When a worker doesn’t report an injury to his employer, the employee loses out on the opportunity to receive workers’ compensation benefits. An injury could turn out to be much more serious than anticipated originally and could cause ongoing health issues, but it may be too late to get workers’ comp if the window to report the injuries was missed. A worker could be left with out-of-pocket expenditures and uncompensated losses because he does not report the injury he sustains in a timely manner. Reporting Atlanta Workplace Injury Van Sant Law

Workers’ compensation benefits should provide coverage for injured employees not only for medical bills, but also for wage loss if the employee misses work, or becomes temporarily or permanently disabled and is prevented or limited in work duties. Prompt reporting of injuries is essential and a workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta should be consulted in the event that a workers’ compensation claim is not approved in a timely manner after an on-the-job injury.

Why Aren’t Employees Reporting all Atlanta Workplace Injuries?

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is tasked with preventing injuries to workers. Unfortunately, as our recent blog on preventing fatal workplace accidents discussed, OSHA is understaffed and is not able to effectively regulate many worksites throughout Atlanta. emergency-room Van Sant Law

OSHA has too few agents to inspect every workplace and identify violations, but the agency will respond to reports of injuries or fatalities. After a worker is hurt on the job, OSHA can investigate what went wrong and may issue citations or even help to facilitate the criminal prosecution of employers for willful violations of safety rules. OSHA is alerted to problems that require investigation when employers report injuries. The rules will be changing soon regarding when reports must be made to OSHA, and broader reporting requirements could help to make workplaces safer.

When victims are injured in work accidents, they have the legal right to workers’ comp benefits. An Atlanta work injury lawyer should be consulted for help ensuring that employers take the necessary steps to provide the benefits necessary after an on-the-job accident.

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Actions taken by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can have a profound impact on the safety of workers. When OSHA issues regulations and when regulations are effectively enforced, employers are forced to make worksites safer and workers in turn have a reduced risk of being injured or killed while doing their jobs. new business Van Sant Law

While OSHA has some understaffing problems and is not always effective, the agency does do a lot of important things to help workers avoid on-the-job injury. Safety News Alert recently summarized some OSHA trends from 2014 that affected employers and workers and that could shape workplace safety efforts this upcoming year.

It is important, however, for workers to remember that there is no requirement that an OSHA violation be committed in order for workers’ compensation eligibility. Any time a worker is hurt or killed while on-the-job or while doing work tasks, that individual or his family members should be entitled to work injury benefits. An Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer can help to pursue a claim for benefits.

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The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, and accidents on construction sites can affect not just workers but passersby as well. Construction sites involving cranes are especially high risk as a result of the possibility of many different types of accidents, from cranes tipping over to items falling from cranes and causing harm. atlanta construction accident lawyer Van Sant Law

Workers injured on a construction site, whether by a crane or otherwise, need to understand their rights and should reach out to an Atlanta work injury lawyer for help if they are harmed.

Unfortunately, injuries involving cranes are often serious or even fatal, so prevention is key to protecting workers and others who are near to construction sites. To help improve crane safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has now proposed a new rule that would mandate more effective training for crane operators.

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When employers violate safety regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this creates an increased risk of catastrophic workplace injuries in Atlanta. Although injuries can happen even when no violations occur, problems with equipment or safety protocols means a greater likelihood a worker will be hurt or even killed due to dangerous conditions. As a result, one of the keys to preventing work injuries from occurring is for OSHA to conduct routine inspections and issue citations. forklift Van Sant Law

OSHA, unfortunately, is understaffed and does not have the manpower to conduct inspections with sufficient regularity. This means OSHA often does not identify workplace violations or take action to issue citations and demand correction of issues. Employers get away with leaving safety issues unresolved, and workers are put in jeopardy. One potential new precedent-setting decision, however, could be a step in the right direction by making it easier for OSHA to do its job.

Pending Court Decision Could Improve OSHA’s Ability to Prevent Atlanta Work Injuries

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Employers are expected to comply with myriad federal regulations regarding the safety of workplaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Act created an agency called the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that is tasked with ensuring compliance. OSHA is supposed to conduct routine inspections to identify safety violations. The agency is also responsible for investigating when a worker is hurt or killed, among other tasks. slippery floor Van Sant Law

Unfortunately, OSHA is understaffed and underfunded. It is not doing nearly enough to protect workers at a time when thousands still die or suffer serious injuries while at work each year. Workers who are hurt can make a claim for work injury benefits with the help of an Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer, and can also notify OSHA about problems and trigger an investigation. However, once a worker has been hurt or killed, it is to late to undo the damage that is done.

If OSHA was more effective, perhaps some injuries and fatalities could be prevented. The Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspection General has announced that it will be conducting audits into some key areas where OSHA may not be fulfilling its obligations to protect employees.

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