Content Type: Articles
‘Bigger fines won’t make us any safer’
The head of Oregon OSHA has suggested raising fines for serious workplace safety violations. But some large companies say higher fines won’t make them any safer.
‘Callous disregard’ for safety leads to $89K OSHA fine
An Illinois roofing contractor has been cited by OSHA 19 times for fall hazards since 2006. An OSHA official said the contractor has shown “utter indifference” to the law.
‘Cathy Cashwell, come on down! You’re caught defrauding workers’ comp on the Price is Right!’
TV anchorman Dan Rather once wrote a book, “The Camera Never Blinks.” A former postal carrier collecting workers’ comp should have considered that before going on a TV game show.
‘Cleanup in aisle 7’: Better make it quick
Imagine this: A baby vomits just inside the entrance to a Target store. Seven minutes later it’s not cleaned up and a customer slips and falls, sustaining injuries. A slip-and-fall lawsuit follows. Will the store be able to get the lawsuit thrown out? Surveillance video is key.
‘Death trap’ warehouse agrees to pay $197K in OSHA fines
The owner of a facility OSHA called “a potential death trap,” has agreed to pay fines and upgrade its facility, two years after the agency found nearly every emergency exit door in the warehouse wasn’t usable.
‘Don’t take my picture, I’m violating an OSHA reg’
A newspaper published a photo of some public works employees fixing a broken water main. Then, OSHA got involved.
‘Garbage in, garbage out’ says court about OSHA injury logs
A federal court case regarding a $900 fine against a company for omitting an injury from its OSHA 300 log has resulted in sharp criticism of OSHA’s recordkeeping standard. See if you agree with the court:
‘Good Samaritan’ worker injured in rescue attempt: Does he get comp?
An employee was injured trying to rescue another worker. His employer says he shouldn’t get workers’ comp because attempting a rescue wasn’t part of his work duties. How did a court rule?
‘I got bit by a spider at work: Pay me comp’
Apparently, there’s no end to the variety of injuries employees can suffer on the job, for which they want to get workers’ comp benefits. Today’s injury: a spider bite.
‘Luckiest guy around’
When sheriff’s deputies arrived in response to a call about a worker who was shocked by a piece of machinery, they found a man with no pulse.
‘Maria, put down the cell phone’
California requires people using a cell phone while driving to use a hands-free device. Now, the state’s governor has had to tell his wife that the law applies to her, too.
‘Mondays are always tough, but this one could be deadly’
While many of us appreciate the extra hour of sunshine in the evening, Daylight Saving Time (DST) comes with risks, particularly for workplace safety.
‘My foot fell off my shoe — give me workers’ comp’
An employee twisted her ankle at work, fell and fractured a bone. It’s the sort of injury she could have suffered at home. Does the injury qualify for workers’ comp benefits?
‘My nose is disfigured, give me workers’ comp’
A worker fractured her nose. Workers’ comp paid for surgery which repaired the fracture and alleviated her pain. However, she argued for almost a year’s worth of additional benefits for disfigurement. Did a court award her more workers’ comp benefits?
‘Nasty’ bathroom causes career-ending injury: Is company liable?
A train engineer says the lead locomotive bathroom on his train was so “nasty” that he couldn’t use it when he needed to vomit. He threw up over the side of the locomotive, fell off the train onto the ground, and injured his back. Is his employer liable?
