April 15, 2013 by Fred Hosier
A worker’s doctors said exposure to chemicals at work caused occupational asthma and respiratory failure. An expert hired by the company said her breathing problems were due to smoking and morbid obesity. How did a court rule when she sued to get workers’ comp benefits?
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Tags: chemical exposure, occupational asthma, respiratory failure, Workers' comp
December 28, 2012 by Fred Hosier
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has lost its bid to overturn a jury award of $2.3 million dollars to a former employee. The scientist says Pfizer fired her for speaking up about worker safety.
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Tags: lab safety, Pfizer, whistleblower, worker safety
November 5, 2012 by Fred Hosier
For the first time in a decade, the rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses did not decrease from one year to the next. The question is: Why?
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Tags: Bureau of Labor Statistics, DART rate, non-fatal injuries, OSHA recordables
February 9, 2012 by Fred Hosier
How do you get employees to pay more attention to workplace hygiene? A study looked into whether knowing they’d be watched would help.
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Tags: cameras, hand washing, hospital hygiene
October 26, 2011 by Fred Hosier
The latest statistics on workplace injuries and illnesses contain good news for U.S. workers and their employers, particularly in these challenging economic times.
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Tags: Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction, direct and indirect cost of injuries, illness and injury rate, manufacturing, nonfatal workplace injuries
October 10, 2011 by Fred Hosier
A worker with chemical sensitivity who is also called “a fairly heavy smoker” by a doctor says exposure to substances at work caused her to be permanently and totally disabled. Can she prove that, and can she get workers’ comp?
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Tags: anhydrous ammonia, bleach, chemical sensitivity, methyl bromide, pesticides, Russell Stover, smoker, Workers' comp
August 8, 2011 by Fred Hosier
July 12, 2011 by Fred Hosier
An eight-month investigation reveals 80 employee deaths at companies in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) between 2000 and 2008. What may be even more shocking: 65% of these companies have maintained their VPP status.
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Tags: Center for Public Integrity, David Michaels, Government Accountability Office, Voluntary Protection Program, VPP
June 13, 2011 by Fred Hosier
A Baltimore man has won an $814,500 judgment after he developed popcorn lung from workplace exposure.
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Tags: bronchiolitis obliterans, diacetyl, Kenneth McClain, popcorn lung
April 26, 2011 by Fred Hosier
As part of a public health initiative, the federal government is calling on all states to enact laws that prohibit smoking in all indoor business areas to protect workers’ health.
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Tags: casinos, CDC, secondhand smoke, state smoking laws
