A New York appeals court found that a worker’s fall injury was from a hazard unrelated to the need for scaffold rails and granted summary judgment in the Labor Law case to the property owner. The court ruled that the injured worker’s fall down stairs on a worksite fell outside of the state’s law covering […]
An appeals court found that a worker who was injured from an electrical shock shouldn’t have been granted partial summary judgment on his New York Labor Law claim. Because there was conflicting evidence on how the worker received the shock, the appeals court said partial summary judgment wasn’t appropriate. Hector Ruiz was performing demolition work […]
A New York City-based masonry contractor and its owner were indicted Jan. 19 for a $7 million workers’ compensation fraud scheme. Oneteam Restoration and its owner, Mario Rojas Jr., were indicted with insurance fraud and falsifying business records after filing false documents to the New York State Fund to save on premiums, according to Manhattan […]
Washington State lawmakers are considering the repeal of a 2003 voter initiative that restricts the state’s Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) ability to regulate work practices related to ergonomics. Senate bill SB 5217 would allow L&I to create and enforce regulations on employer ergonomics work practices to prevent worker musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. “The […]
An Alabama plastics manufacturer pleaded guilty Jan. 10 to a willful violation of an OSHA standard that caused a worker’s death. ABC Polymer Industries LLC pleaded guilty to the violation that led to the Aug. 16, 2017, death of a worker at the company’s plant in Helena, Alabama. Company trained employees to bypass guards The […]
Illinois may be joining the small but growing list of states creating laws on warehouse safety as the state’s legislature enacted a budget bill Jan. 9 with provisions for a Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force. New York has recently enacted a law targeting unlawful quotas that could lead to injuries for warehouse workers while Minnesota […]
Two new bills introduced in Minnesota would address workplace safety issues at warehouses and meatpacking plants, if adopted. State lawmakers introduced HF 36, which addresses warehouses for merchandise and mail-order houses, and HF 23, which would grant certain protections to meatpacking workers, according to Business Insurance. HF 36 This bill specifically addresses quotas for warehouse […]
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act into law, protecting warehouse workers from unlawful or undisclosed work speed quotas. The law, which was signed Dec. 21, also includes protections for workers who fail to meet unlawful quotas. Hochul said the law “aims to protect warehouse workers from unreasonably demanding work quotas” […]
New York’s Penal Law has been amended under new legislation, known as Carlos’ Law, to increase penalties for criminal corporate liability for the death or injury of an employee. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation Dec. 23, raising the fine for felonies or misdemeanors relating to an employee’s death or serious physical injury up to […]
