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Did drug use contribute to cause of worker’s injury?


August 30, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, construction safety, new court decision

judgment

A worker uses questionable judgment while using heavy equipment. He’s seriously injured, and a test shows he used illegal drugs. The employee applies for workers’ comp. Does he get benefits?

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Stupid warehouse tricks: Unsafe horseplay caught on video


August 16, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Special Report, Stupid human safety tricks, Workers' attitudes about safety, new court decision

ShockComputer

An employee engaged in unsafe horseplay at work. He got warnings, including a final one, but was caught once again on videotape. He was fired, and the case eventually went to court.

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Worker’s knee popped walking up stairs: Does she get comp?


August 9, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

comp-costs

An employee injures her knee just by walking up stairs at work and applies for workers’ comp benefits.

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Key to lower OSHA fines after a violation


July 30, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, Who Got Fined and Why?, construction safety, enforcement, new court decision

Uh oh. An OSHA inspector shows up at your business. He uncovers a violation, and you don’t dispute it. How do you limit your company’s financial liability?

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Employee’s transplant damaged in work incident: Does he get comp?


July 19, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

An employee who suffered from an eye disease had a corneal transplant that improved his vision from 20/200 to 20/50. Then, a workplace incident damaged the transplant, and his vision returned to 20/200.

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Worker breaks leg while turning around, gets comp


July 2, 2010 by Jim Burger
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, Uncategorized, Workers' comp, new court decision

x-ray

For most employees, turning around isn’t dangerous. But for a nurse in Mississippi, that simple act resulted in a broken leg, a protracted court battle, and ultimately, a sizable workers’ comp award. 

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In drug treatment, on methadone: Is he a safety threat?


June 28, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Special Report, disabilities and safety, new court decision

jury-box

A company decided to take back a conditional offer of employment after it found the applicant was a recovering drug addict. A lawsuit followed.

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2 employees poisoned: Why only 1 could sue


June 16, 2010 by Jim Burger
Posted in: Illnesses, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Lawsuits, Workers' comp, confined spaces, criminal charges, new court decision

How far should the “exclusive remedy” provision of workers’ comp go?

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Drowsy truck driver leads to $1.5M jury verdict


June 11, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, fatigue, new court decision

Two employers will have to fork over $1.5 million to the victim of a truck crash, following a California jury’s verdict.

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Worker delayed injury report, says it happened right before vacation


June 11, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Back/lifting injuries, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

comp-costs

When workers don’t report injuries right away and then apply for workers’ comp benefits, it often raises a red flag. With conflicting testimony, these cases often come down to which side the court finds more believable.

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Should benefits be paid for fatal crash on way home from work?


June 8, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp, new court decision

An employer encouraged carpooling when some of its workers didn’t have transportation to work. Is the company now on the hook for workers’ compensation benefits after a fatal car crash?

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Pot-smoking worker mauled by grizzly: Does he get comp?


May 24, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Bizarre Accident of the Week, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

Bear

A worker at a bear park smoked pot before coming to work where he fed grizzlies. The worker was seriously injured by one of the bears. A workers’ compensation judge called that “mind-bogglingly stupid.” But did the judge rule the worker was entitled to workers’ comp?

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Employee injured at work before shift: Did he get comp?


May 17, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, Workers' comp, new court decision

timeclock

For purposes of workers’ comp benefits, just what constitutes an injury “arising out of and in the course of employment”? A court recently issued an interesting interpretation of that phrase.

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Can employee get workers’ comp because customers yelled at her?


May 10, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Hearing, Injuries, Special Report, Workers' comp, new court decision

Phoneyell

What types of workplace noise do you think of in connection with occupational hearing loss? Jack hammers, lawn tractors, manufacturing assembly lines? In this case, a worker claims hearing loss from being yelled at on the phone by angry customers.

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Should worker receive permanent disability for his asthma?


April 26, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Respiratory safety, Special Report, What do you think?, Worker health, Workers' comp, new court decision

Inhaler

It’s a fact: Dust, temperature and humidity factor into asthma attacks. But how can you tell if asthma is an ongoing disability?

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$30.3 million asbestos verdict largest in state history


April 21, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Chemical safety, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Worker health, cost of safety, new court decision

A New Jersey state appeals court has upheld a record $30.3 million jury award in an asbestos-related mesothelioma lawsuit. The case is also noteworthy because of the test recognized by the court for a mesothelioma case.

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Jury awards $10 million in worker fatality


April 20, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Falls, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, construction safety, contractor safety, cost of safety, new court decision

A jury in Alabama awarded $10 million to a woman whose husband died in a workplace incident in 2008.

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Business owner dodges prison after worker fatality


April 15, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Safety training, What do you think?, criminal charges, new court decision

Prosecutors asked for prison time for the owner of a tree cutting company after he was found guilty of negligent homicide in connection with a worker fatality. But the judge disagreed and sentenced him to a suspended jail term.

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Hearing loss case costs company $250,000


April 2, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Hearing, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Safety training, cost of safety, new court decision

Lawyers believe a judge’s award of damages to five former refinery workers for hearing damage is the first of its kind in Louisiana.

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Employee wins $100K over allergy to co-worker’s perfume


April 1, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, What do you think?, Worker health, disabilities and safety, new court decision

An employee who said a co-worker’s perfume made her throat “close a little” will receive $100,000 from her employer in a settlement. The company will also have to enact a new policy on personal scents.

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Worker hides injury for 2 months – then sues for comp


March 15, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, Workers' comp, new court decision

InjuryCalendar

An employee was injured at work. At first his injury seemed minor. But as time passed, his condition grew more serious. He didn’t tell his employer about the incident until he needed to see a medical specialist.

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Did laid-off employees’ job hunt cancel his workers’ comp?


March 8, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, Workers' comp, new court decision

layoff

If doctors declare an injured worker totally disabled, what happens if he looks for work while he’s waiting to see if he gets workers’ comp benefits?

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Worker injured in company housing: Does he get comp?


February 22, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Falls, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

A migrant worker fractured his ankle on a sidewalk outside of employer-provided housing. Does he get workers’ comp benefits for his injury?

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Can injured worker turn down light-duty job and still get comp?


February 19, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Back/lifting injuries, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp, new court decision

A doctor cleared an injured worker for a specific light-duty job. The worker didn’t think she could do the offered job and didn’t show up for work. Did a court allow her to continue to receive workers’ comp benefits?

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Injured while driving to get coffee: Worker files for comp


January 25, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, Workers' comp, new court decision

An employee used a company vehicle, which he was allowed to drive, to get coffee and suffered a serious accident. He applied for workers’ comp benefits. Did he receive them?

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Worker on PCP when hurt still sues for comp


January 18, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Back/lifting injuries, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, new court decision

drugs

A worker tests positive for PCP right after he’s injured. Is he still able to collect workers’ comp benefits?

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People collecting disability shouldn’t work … on TV


January 7, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp, new court decision

The bright lights of TV proved too attractive to an interior designer who was on workers’ comp.

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Donning and doffing safety gear: Did contract violate law?


January 7, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, PPE (protective equipment), new court decision

Under their union contract at one company, workers were only paid for their “line time.” They weren’t compensated for the time it took to put on or take off safety gear.

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Man who attacked co-workers with hammer gets 65 years in prison


December 30, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, new court decision, workplace violence

A judge has sentenced a man to 65 years in prison for the  attempted murder of three of his former co-workers at a Brooklyn, NY, seafood warehouse.

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Workers awarded $100M, even without major health effects


December 22, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Chemical safety, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, Lawsuits, new court decision

BP must pay more than $100 million in damages for exposing contract workers to toxic chemicals, even though none of the 10 employees in the case suffered major long-term health effects.

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Customer’s perfume made her sick: Is company liable?


December 21, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Bizarre Accident of the Week, Respiratory safety, Special Report, Workers' comp, new court decision

smells

Imagine this: One of your employees complains that a customer’s perfume made her so sick that she needs permanent and total disability benefits. We’re not making this up: It actually happened.

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Worker still in court 27 years later for little toe injury


December 14, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

burned-foot

Ever face an appeal in a workers’ comp case? Then you know it can take a long time. But here’s a case that’s been in the courts for 27 years, and it isn’t over yet. And the injury was to the worker’s little toe.

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Should workers be on the clock for ’safety showers’?


December 7, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Chemical safety, Special Report, What do you think?, new court decision

Shower

Workers sue to be compensated for the time spent changing clothes and showering at the end of each work shift. Do they win? You be the judge.

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Shareholders settle lawsuit to increase company’s safety


December 1, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Lawsuits, What do you think?, cost of safety, lockout/tagout, new court decision

Following a worker’s death and millions in OSHA fines, some shareholders filed a lawsuit against Cintas Corp. alleging the board has failed to ensure the company complied with safety regulations. Now the company has settled the lawsuit.

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Burned out light costs employer $12.7 million


November 30, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Bizarre Accident of the Week, Falls, Special Report, cost of safety, new court decision

costs-stack-up

A burned out light, two identical doors and an 18-foot fall add up to a costly jury verdict for one employer.

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