Construction worker killed, four injured in crane collapse
The arm of a 170-foot crane broke in half Tuesday, killing one and injuring four others at a subway construction site in Manhattan, N.Y.
The New Times identified the dead construction worker…
Subcontractor crushed to death at Kent construction site
Barberton subcontractor Russell Hirschfelt, 49, died Tuesday after being crushed between a backhoe and a stack of concrete slabs. The Lockhart Concrete construction worker was walking between the…
Supreme Court Tightens Reins on Pay Discrimination Claims
Today’s New York Times reports that in a 5-4 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court held that employees may not bring suit under the principal federal anti-discrimination law unless they have filed a formal complaint with a federal agency within 180 days after their pay was set. This decision, which does not provide for an extension of the time frame if the worker is unaware of discriminatory…
Recovery Beyond Workers Compensation
As most employees know, if you are injured while in the course and scope of your employment you are entitled to workers compensation benefits. These benefits cover your medical bills, lost wages and sometimes provide compensation for future losses, depending on the nature of the injuries. What employees should also be aware of, is if the injury incurred at work, was caused by the negligence of…
Employers That Provide Blackberries to Employees Must Prohibit Texting While Driving or Face Liability
The Workers Comp Insider Blog raises a very interesting and concerning work related issue in its posting March 16, 2007 concerning employee use of Blackberry or cellular devises and the practice of texting while driving. As if we don’t have enough distractions as we hurtle ourselves from Point A to Point B in four ton vehicles, we read that DWT – driving while texting – has become an issue of…
Worker Pulled From Collapsed Trench Lucky to Survive
An Akron area man was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland Wednesday after being buried to his waist in mud for more than two hours after a trench collapsed. The worker, Malcolm Ferguson, 51, of Akron, suffered broken bones in his lower leg, and possibly a large-bone break, Reminderville, Ohio fire officials said.Trench collapses can be deadly and are usually caused by a failure to…
BP Lacking Necessary Safety Precautions for Employees
Following a two year investigation of BP’s refineries in 5 states, a safety panel headed by former Secretary of State James Baker determined that BP lacked important workplace safety measures and had a general lax attitude towards the safety of its employees. The safety investigation was prompted by the explosion in Texas City, Texas which killed 15 and injured 170. While the panel couldn’t…
Worksite Falls Lead to Certain Disaster
Injuryboard attorney Thomas J, Methvin recently blogged on the topic of fall hazards at residential construction sites. Without question this is one of the greatest safety concerns present on a jobsite and one of the leading causes of death or disabling injury in the workplace. In 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 1,224 construction workers died on the job, with 36…
Open Season on Injured Workers?
With the hunting season nearing full swing, is it open season on injured workers?Apparently school districts have annoucned that injured teachers and school employees are costing the districts too much in workers compensation claims. A determined effort will be made, apparently, to compel injured school employees to do other jobs until they are able to return to their regular job, or to cajole…
Ohio's Scandals Plague Injured Workers
Injured on the job? Most workers believe that if they are injured on the job, they will be taken care of under workers compensation system. In Ohio, that may not be such good news.Under the scandal plagued Taft administration, injured workers in Ohio’s workers compensation system are now overseen by CareWorks of Ohio, a highly politically connected company that may not have the best interests…
