Articles Posted in Workers Comp

It should come as no surprise that working in certain jobs is much more dangerous than working in other professions. There are some industries where you are working with tools equipment, and machinery and are out in the field all day doing physical labor. These jobs tend to have a higher probability of something going wrong. While this does not mean injuries cannot happen anywhere, it does mean that extra precautions should be taken by both employers and employees in the highest risk sectors.

When a death on-the-job happens, an Atlanta workplace fatality lawyer should be consulted by the family members of the person who was killed. Death benefits should be available through workers’ compensation, provided it can be demonstrated that the fatality was a work-related one. The death of a worker can be devastating for family members and all steps should be taken to prevent such a tragedy from occurring.

If the death happens, however, at least workers’ compensation can help to shield the family from some possible financial consequences associated with losing the deceased’s income.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), plays a pivotal role in worker safety. In fact, 35 years ago, workplace safety was unheard of, and employers were not held to the same rigorous standards they are today.

OSHA enforces these standards and takes all workplace safety regulations seriously–and because of OSHA, the number of workplace injuries has reduced significantly.

It can be extremely stressful to suffer an injury on the job. How are you going to pay your bills? Will you lose your job if you are unable to work? Will you get fired if you file for workers’ compensation? What if your workers’ compensation claim gets denied?

These are all common questions. We hear them from injured workers throughout Georgia almost every single day.

Right now, the most important thing you need to know is this: if you are an employee who was injured on the job, there is a good chance that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The attorneys at Van Sant Law can help make sure you receive the benefits that you deserve.

There is plenty that workers do not know about workers’ compensation, but should. These things not only help workers understand their rights, but can also help them better determine how to handle an injury claim, if one should arise. Regardless of the industry you work in, you should familiarize yourself with these facts. And, if you are ever injured, contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Georgia right away to explore your options.

10 Important Facts to Know About Workers’ Comp in Georgia

To ensure you get the workers’ compensation you deserve under Georgia law, you need to know the following:

Every day, thousands of people are injured in the workplace. Many of these are true accidents. People slip and fall, equipment malfunctions, and unexpected things happen. However, when these injuries occur at work for any reason, victims are given fair workers’ compensation by law.

Sometimes, however, these injuries are caused by negligence. These terrible injuries sometimes cost more than a typical no-fault workers’ compensation claim, and since it is caused by another person’s (or company’s) negligence, more benefits may be deserved.

The least tolerable types of workplace accidents relate to negligence by a supervisor. A key role of a supervisor is to keep employees safe and to make sure everything is running smoothly. Not only does poor supervision mean that accidents are more likely, but also that accidents may be more widespread and affect more employees.

A construction worker in Dekalb County, Georgia was trapped in a manhole when he was inspecting a well. The man suddenly encountered an area with a lot of water, and was unable to escape from his position under the ground. Thankfully, fast-working emergency crews were able to take the man out of the manhole quickly. Fire officials say that the construction worker was not seriously injured in the accident.

While the construction worker survived the incident, this accident brings awareness to the dangers of construction work involving manholes. According to the Department of Labor, manholes can often be filled with toxic gases or can be covered in water. It is possible for individuals to suffocate, suffer poisoning, or down while in this confined space.

Any construction workers that are working in manholes are required to have a safety harness, rope, and tripod safety system when descending and are required to wear an approved hardhat. As well, they are required to have a fresh air blower on hand and a gas detector to help make sure that the air in the hole isn’t dangerous.

Several weeks ago, a firefighter suffered second-degree burns when he was battling a house fire at an abandoned home in northwest Atlanta. According to reports, the fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m., causing panic among the neighboring homes. The flames spread to the home next door, but the department said that the home dwellers weren’t there at the time of the accident. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital after the accident with second-degree burns.

Firefighters work a dangerous job, and sometimes they can be severely injured as a result. Injured firefighters should be reimbursed for their medical damages through worker’s compensation. If the city fails to do so, then contact an attorney right away for more information. With the right lawyer on your side, you may be able to insist on the worker’s compensation that will cover all of your medical bills associated with firefighting injuries that were captured on the job.

In August, firefighters in the city of Phoenix, Arizona collectively filed lawsuit over denied worker’s compensation claims, claiming that their valid injuries were denied for compensation on a regular basis. The firefighters then sued the city, claiming that they had been scammed. In this situation, some firefighters were denied surgery because they were not given the compensation to afford the treatments that they needed.

Tuberculosis is a serious illness that can result in hospitalization or death. Recently, a worker at the Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia realized that she had this illness and may have exposed others who came in for treatments to the contagious infection. On June 14th, the medical center officials sent notices out to 133 patients at the medical center who may have come into contact with the infected employee and should take preventative measures to make sure that they do not catch the illness.

The medical center employees are required to take a TB skin test every June to make sure that they do not have this illness, and usually the routine test only proves that all workers are healthy. Unfortunately, one unlucky worker at the medical center tested positive this year. She later learned that she had developed the illness on May 15th. While the infected employee is expected to recover, the medical center wants to make sure that patients who were exposed don’t experience the same symptoms.

Anyone who was exposed to the infected employee has been contacted and has been advised to return to the hospital for a free TB test. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes that TB is a disease that is called by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack the lungs, making it difficult for victims to breathe. It can also attack any other part of the body. In the past, TB has been known to affect the brain, the spine, or the kidney.