Falls from heights continue to be one of the leading causes of serious injury for workers in California and across the nation. A fall from even a lesser distance can cause injuries that have a lingering impact on a person's life, and those that involve greater distances could lead to life-altering consequences. A man in another state reportedly suffered severe injuries during a workplace accident that took place at a construction site.
Are sleep disorders covered by workers' compensation?
Workers in a variety of occupations in California are candidates for sleep disorders caused by shift work. While workers' compensation might not cover the disorder as such, workplace injuries and certain illnesses that could be caused by the lack of sufficient sleep will likely be covered. Workers who are at risk include police officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors, office cleaners and factory workers.
Scaffold injuries feature among top workers' compensation claims
Safety authorities in California and elsewhere point to the fact that scaffold-related violations dropped from number one to number three on the list of most frequently cited safety violations. However, it remains at number three, which is still concerning. They say the number of workers' compensation claims for falls from scaffolds can be significantly reduced if employers provide adequate safety training and frequent refresher sessions to prevent complacency. That requires a competent person on site who can not only assess the safety of scaffold structures but also provide the necessary training.
How many workers' compensation claims will follow holiday sales?
With the frantic pace of holiday shopping, workers in various occupations across California will face higher injury risks than at other times of the year. Retail and wholesale workers, including those in warehouses and fulfillment centers, and transportation workers will be at risk. Many of them may need to file workers' compensation claims during or in the aftermath of the holiday shopping season.
Workers' compensation: Lead exposure can cause irreparable harm
Many California workers are exposed to dangerous levels of lead, often without their knowledge. A new law was recently enacted to provide protection. Elevated lead levels in a worker's blood can cause irreversible heart disease and neurological damage. The risk of permanent damage increases when exposure is prolonged, and this is where the new law comes in -- but how does workers' compensation treat occupational illnesses caused by lead exposure?
Workers' compensation: Lead exposure can cause irreparable harm
Many California workers are exposed to dangerous levels of lead, often without their knowledge. A new law was recently signed to provide protection. Elevated lead levels in a worker's blood can cause irreversible heart disease and neurological damage. The risk of permanent damage increases when exposure is prolonged, and this is where the new law comes in -- but how does workers' compensation treat occupational illnesses caused by lead exposure?
Workers' compensation: 40-foot fall kills California ironworker
In what must have been a traumatic experience, teachers, school staff and co-workers recently an ironworker fall 40 feet to his death. The incident occurred on a construction site at a high school in San Diego. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched an investigation. Falls form a significant percentage of the death benefits claims that are filed in California each year.
Workers' compensation: The hazards faced by retail store workers
Workers in retail stores nationwide, including California, face many more safety hazards than most people would expect. Many workers' compensation claims filed each year involve injuries suffered by employees of retail stores. The risks they face were recently underscored by an $898,682 fine proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concerning four different Dollar Tree Stores in another state.
Workers' compensation: Fall protection violations
Falls are some of the most significant hazards to which workers in all industries are exposed. Unfortunately, many employers fail to prioritize employee safety, which was underscored at a safety congress that was recently held in San Diego. As in the previous eight years, the most frequently cited safety violations in the fiscal year 2019 were related to fall protection. It would be interesting to know whether the lack of fall protection also features near the top of workers' compensation claims in California.
Will workers' compensation cover a work-related stroke?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cerebrovascular accidents, or strokes, rank in the top five major causes of deaths and serious disabilities nationwide, including California. Various studies have indicated that working extended shifts could increase stroke risks. Those at risk might have questions about their chances of receiving workers' compensation benefits should they suffer strokes at work, or even at home, but as a result of long working hours.
