Chula Vista California Workers' Compensation Law Blog

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reported that it had launched an investigation into an incident in which a construction worker had to be rescued by the Orange County Fire Authority. The fire chief said that the incident occurred on a recent Tuesday morning. It is unclear whether there were injuries such as suspension trauma that might lead to a workers' compensation claim.

Reportedly, firefighters responded to the U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement Building in West Santa Ana shortly after 8 a.m. to find a worker dangling on a rope at the height of the building's seventh floor. An incident report indicates that the worker, who is employed by a waterproofing company, was working on the repair of a section of concrete on the outside of the building.

Most members of the California workforce can find comfort in the knowledge that someone will have their backs if they should suffer occupational injuries. The state-regulated workers' compensation insurance program would cover workplace injuries and illnesses, even if they resulted from the negligence of the workers or employers. However, there are specific circumstances under which benefits claims might be denied.

An employee who suffered injuries while alcohol or drugs impaired him or her might not be eligible for compensation. The state is entitled to test that employee for impairment, and if tests show that the alcohol or drugs were factors at the time of the incident that caused the injuries, benefits claims might be rejected. Injuries that happen when an employee is acting in violation of company policy or state or federal law will not be covered, nor will those that were self-inflicted or suffered when the worker was off duty.

Working in auto manufacturing plants appear to be extremely hazardous. That is if one looks at the many investigations launched into worker safety at the Fremont factory of Tesla Inc. According to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the electric vehicle maker's Fremont plant is currently the subject of six ongoing investigations. Employees in this facility will likely find comfort in knowing that they are covered by the workers' compensation program of the state.

Reportedly, Cal/OSHA launched an investigation on Sept. 4 into a workplace accident in which a garbage bin was pushed by a forklift, wedging a worker between that bin and another one. On the following day, a second probe started to look into the circumstances of an incident in which the fingers of an employee became trapped in a power-bolting tool. The severity of these injuries is not known.

Safety should be the most important concern in any workplace. Whether you work in nursing, education or construction, your workplace has hazards, and it is your employer's responsibility to provide training and resources to manage these hazards. In order to understand such training, though, you must understand the language the training is in. Language differences and barriers can compromise safety.

According to the journal Business Insurance, language barriers increase risks and hazards on construction sites — thus making injuries and deaths more likely. Consider the following reasons why a workplace with multiple languages may make staff more susceptible to injuries.