Chula Vista California Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Safety hazards exist in all industries, and most workers in California face risks of suffering physical injuries or contracting diseases. Workers' compensation claims are proof that some workers in some industries face cancer risks of which they are not aware. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the American Cancer Society, and international authorities have identified occupations that pose exceptional cancer risks.

The first one mentioned was the danger posed by UV radiation, threatening workers who spend extended periods in the sun, with particular mention of pilots and lifeguards. Hairdressers are exposed to over 5,000 chemicals that are present in hair dye, many of which are known cancer-causing agents. Authorities say workers in nail salons work with polishes and astringents that contain more carcinogens than products with which workers in oil refineries and auto garages have to deal. Painters are also exposed to arsenic and fumes of benzene and other chemicals that pose risks that include lymphoma, leukemia, bladder or kidney tumors and multiple myeloma.

For teens, summer means freedom from school, time with their friends and whole days full of exploration and activity. It also means an increased risk of deadly car crashes.

As we mentioned in an earlier blog post, the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day sees a spike in fatal car crashes every year. And these “100 Deadliest Days” don’t end with a whimper. They end with a bang. Far too many bangs. Labor Day is the second deadliest holiday of the year, claiming over 300 lives each year.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health urged employers to heed the high temperatures that have been predicted and protect workers from excessive heat exposure. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 100 degrees in the coming weeks. Taking the necessary precautions can prevent heat illness, and yet, each year the state-regulated workers' compensation program receives benefits claims from workers who were not protected.

Cal/OSHA says the safety standards apply to all workers who spend substantial hours outdoors, including those in construction, landscaping and agriculture. Also groundskeepers, security guards and delivery drivers who spend many hours in vehicles without air conditioning are also a concern. The vulnerability of workers must be assessed according to their duties and the time they are exposed to high temperatures.

Construction workers in California and elsewhere risk their lives whenever they enter trenches. The number of workers' compensation benefits claims that follow cave-ins is concerning, and authorities hope that the upcoming Trench Safety Stand Down from June 17 to 21 would prevent future wall collapses. Although trenches and excavations are both human-made cuts or depressions in the surface of the earth, trenches are those of which the depth is greater than the width, with widths not exceeding 15 feet.

Workers are reminded that they have the right to refuse to enter unprotected trenches. Any such an excavation that is deeper than five feet and not made entirely of solid rock must be protected by sloping the wall to incline away from the opening or by benching, which involves the walls shaped in steps. Shoring and shielding are options that make use of supports to strengthen the walls or trench boxes that protect workers by enclosing them and preventing cave-ins. The suitable method of protection depends on various factors, such as water content, soil type and more, and a designated competent person must consider them to determine the appropriate support system to be used.