Chula Vista California Workers' Compensation Law Blog

California workers in all industries will be aware of the many safety hazards they face every day. While each job might have unique dangers, safety authorities say there are a few basic hazards that threaten employees in all work environments. These are hazards that cause millions of non-fatal injuries nationwide each year, giving rise to workers' compensation benefits claims.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists slip and trip accidents as a significant threat that causes multiple injuries from minor to catastrophic. Spills that are not cleaned up immediately and random objects or debris in walkways are named as primary causes of these accidents. Electrical hazards also exist in all workplaces, and employers must ensure frayed wires, shorting sockets and other electrocution threats are addressed.

A California father of an electrician assistant says the fact that his deceased son's employer received a fine of almost $40,000 does not provide him comfort because the incident that caused his son's death should never have happened. He might feel the same way about the workers' compensation death benefits for which the surviving family members might be eligible. The man says the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is glossing over his son's workplace death without providing answers about why the tragedy happened.

Cal/OSHA issued the city of Modesto four citations along with the fine. An appeal by the city was put on hold while the Bureau of Investigations is conducting a second investigation. If investigators find any proof of criminal wrongdoing on the part of the employer, the case will be turned over to the court.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a report last October that shows an alarming rise in fatalities among heavy-duty truckers. While 3.5 deaths occur per 10,000 workers across all professions, 26.8 in every 10,000 truckers die in traffic accidents. That represents a 25 percent increase since 2011. These numbers will likely also reflect in the claims for survivor's benefits that are filed with the workers' compensation program in California and other states.

According to the National Transportation Institute, alcohol and drug use have become a matter of concern because approximately one in every seven drivers who apply for trucking jobs fail their drug tests. Safety authorities further state that too many trucker deaths are caused by excessive speed and distractions, with a significant percentage of them failing to wear their seatbelts. Drowsy driving and fatigue also feature as causes of a substantial proportion of big rig driver fatalities.

Anyone in California who has ever been the victim of a dog attack will know how traumatic such an experience can be. Along with the personal injury typically comes the emotional trauma that might cause long-term psychological harm. The first thing to do after being bitten by a dog is to determine whether the dog's rabies shots are current -- even if there is only a scratch. If this cannot be confirmed, a visit to the emergency room for a human rabies immunoglobulin shot is essential.

A dog that has rabies will have the virus in its saliva, and it could be transmitted via even the slightest break in the victim's skin. Even if there is no risk of rabies, puncture wounds and scratches caused by dog bites can become extremely painful if they get infected. The damaged area will become swollen, and if there is damage to a muscle or a nerve, it will be more painful.