It should be obvious that a company should not profit at the expense of its workers’ health. Workplace safety is incredibly important, and when regulations and safety procedures are not followed, the workplace becomes very dangerous for the people who are employed there. A Nov. 4 report covers this important topic, which should be at the heart of all workplaces.
When a worker is injured, it costs the company more than just an insurance premium. The worker may not be able to come back to work, which means lost hours and wasted money on training. The best way to prevent these kinds of expenses from getting out of control is to have a good workplace safety plan. One of the most effective ways to reduce costs is simply not to have costs related to injuries at all; that means taking steps to prevent injuries of all kinds in the workplace.
In your workplace, you should have access to personal protective equipment as well as documents explaining what to do if you’re exposed to workplace chemicals or other hazards. You should know your policy on reporting injuries and what you should do if you are injured in the workplace. If an accident does take place in the workplace, your employer should be taking steps to figure out how to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Identifying and fixing problems in the workplace can help save lives and prevent injuries. With the right help, workplaces can become safer. If you’re injured, workers’ compensation is there to cover your needs, but the real challenge is making sure something is learned from the situation so that others don’t suffer the same injuries.
Source: Industry Week, “Profits Should Not Come at the Cost of Workplace Safety,” Janice Berthold, Nov. 04, 2016
There are many kinds of workplace illnesses that can result in you having to miss work, from common illnesses like the flu or a cold to serious illnesses such as cancer caused by exposure to toxins. Even the most common workplace illnesses could result in a workers’ compensation claim depending on your situation. Here are a few examples.
Catching the flu
It probably comes as no surprise that catching the flu is a problem in busy workplaces where people interact. Most offices encourage getting the flu shot to protect those who can’t from the potentially life-threatening illness. While many people get sick and then recover within a few days, others may not be so lucky. If you end up with a flu that was going around the office and develop pneumonia, for example, you may find yourself in the hospital for several days and have to miss work for a week or longer. At that point, it’s worth considering a workers’ compensation claim if you can show that you caught the flu while you were at work. It may be helpful if you could show that a co-worker had a particularly bad flu and chose to come to work, anyway; for example, those who had the H1N1 could have spread a life-threatening flu and weren’t supposed to go into work.
Suffering from strep
Another condition that spreads fairly easily is strep throat. It can result in tonsils swelling up, difficulty swallowing, fevers and other issues. Strep can be passed from person to person for up to 21 days without treatment. If a coworker decides not to seek treatment when he or she knows that strep is likely, you could file a complaint and may have a case if you end up sick and have to miss work.
It’s not always easy to prove that a simple illness that goes around each year is a direct result of being on the job, but with the right evidence and information on how your illness progressed, you may be able to access workers’ compensation or other benefits.
Source: Lifesize, “Six Common Office Illnesses and Their Contagious Periods,” Julian Fields, accessed Nov. 03, 2016
Workers’ compensation insurance covers you if you’re injured in a work-related accident. Any employee working a typical job should have coverage provided by an employer.
Do trucking companies have to carry workers’ compensation insurance?
While some truck operators and trucking company owners are independent contractors, North Carolina law requires that workers’ compensation coverage is in place to cover these individuals. If the owner-operator of a business doesn’t offer workers’ compensation insurance coverage due to drivers being independent contractors, then the motor carrier needs to purchase workers’ compensation coverage for him- or herself.
Is a motor-carrier employer liable for workplace injuries that are suffered by an independent contractor?
North Carolina law states that workplace injuries that are suffered by an independent contractor are not the responsibility of a motor-carrier employer if the independent contractor is licensed individually by the U.S. Department of Transportation and personally operates the vehicle in which he or she was injured.
Can a company carry occupational accident insurance instead of workers’ compensation insurance?
While it might seem like a good substitute, carrying and occupational accident insurance instead of workers’ compensation insurance is not legal. It is a separate type of insurance that an employer can purchase on top of workers’ compensation coverage, but it only covers specific injury types and has limited benefits. Carriers in North Carolina are not required to have occupational accident insurance, but they may choose to if they want extra coverage for their employees. However, if the carrier is not carrying workers’ compensation coverage, this is against the law and can result in fines or lawsuits from injured employees.
Source: North Carolina Industrial Commission, “Frequently Asked Questions,” accessed Oct. 28, 2016
There are several causes of workplace accidents. These common causes result in a number of injuries and deaths each year, but the most tragic part is that they can be prevented. Here are three of the most common that you can avoid.
The first cause is unsafe lifting. Employees who lift objects wrong or objects that are too heavy may tear, sprain or strain their muscles. This could lead to the need for surgery or result in torn ligaments that no longer function correctly, leaving you in pain.
Another issue is dehydration, which is particularly prominent in hot locations or workplaces. On particularly hot days, dehydration can result in heat stroke or cardiac problems that could lead to death; it’s important for workers to have appropriate breaks and to drink regularly throughout the day. Safe workplaces encourage hydration and rest and take anyone showing signs of dehydration off the job immediately. If your boss won’t allow you to drink enough and you fall ill, you could file a workers’ compensation claim against him or her.
Fatigue is another serious risk in the workplace that can lead to accidents. If you’ve ever driven tired or tried to work when you weren’t quite awake, you know that it’s easy to make mistakes that threaten you and others. Make sure that you get a good night of sleep before work, and if you’re too tired to work, say so. It’s better for an employee to get a 20-minute nap than for one to cause a workplace accident that results in a disability or death.
In all these cases, it’s possible to prevent the causes that could lead to an accident. Stay vigilant and work, and report any hazards or actions that could lead to injury.
Source: Reliable Plant, “8 Common Causes of Workplace Accidents,” Tom Reddon, accessed Oct. 21, 2016
Suffering an injury on the job is a painful reminder of the reason safety protocols are in place. However, they weren’t always, and not every workplace is as safe as it should be. Here’s a few examples of the ways that you could be hurt on the job if your employer doesn’t take the safety procedures necessary seriously. First, if you’re an insulator, you could have been exposed to asbestos, solvents or epoxies that could lead to illness. Insulation created before 1975 contains asbestos that can lead to asbestosis. Working with glue solvents can lead to acute solvent syndrome or peripheral neuropathy.
If you are a roofer, you could face a number of other illnesses as well. If you remove roofing shingles, you could face lead poisoning. Or, if you applied asphalt to cables, pipes or roofing, you could face photoirritant dermatitis. Asbestos was also a problem for roofers in the past, so asbestosis is a possibility.
For carpenters, you may think that the most common injury would be hammering nails into fingers or hands, but there are many items that could cause permanent illness or injury later in life or at the time of exposure. Old paint removal could lead to lead poisoning, and any insulation used before 1975 could lead to asbestosis. Exposure to paint that has an oil base can lead to acute solvent syndrome, and working with machine or sand creosote treated wood could lead to photoirritant dermatitis.
In each of these cases, the illness may not show up immediately. Workers who suffer from asbestosis, acute solvent syndrome, blood poisoning or other illnesses should look into seeking compensation.
Source: Haz-Map, “Diseases and Jobs,” accessed Oct. 13, 2016
When you or a loved one goes to work, there’s always a risk of injuries. However, it’s the job of your employer to keep those risks low. When safety procedures aren’t followed, those who are hurt or the family of those who are killed can seek compensation through a lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim, depending on the case.
The North Carolina Department of Labor has fined the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire & Rescue department after its captain was killed during an underwater recovery operation performed at Lake Norman.
According to the story on Hickory Record, The citation issued states that the department needs to pay $5,600 for violations that led to the man’s death. The department violated the state statute 95-129(1), which requires employers to provide workers with an environment free from recognized hazards that could lead to serious harm, injury or death.
The North Carolina Department of Labor discovered eight violations following the captain’s death. First, the citation reports that the air supply for the men diving in the recovery operation was not monitored adequately. Second, at least one diver had attached a body recovery bag and rope to his rig, which was a hazard and could risk entanglement. Another citation was that at least one of the divers did not perform an equipment check before the dive.
One diver did not have a redundant air supply, and the department had failed to train divers in similar conditions. The rescue dive team had not received an annual evaluation and dive records were not consistent. Training certifications, documents and medical evaluations were not maintained.
The captain did not perform safety stops on the way to the surface after realizing he was out of air. He removed both divers’ masks. Two divers surfaced and a rescue to reach the captain was attempted and failed.
Source: Hickory Record, “Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire & Rescue fined after Capt. Long died in diving operation,” Tom Neas, Sep. 20, 2016
If a worker is misclassified as an independent contractor, there are a few things that could happen. If the worker is injured, that worker won’t have the workers’ compensation coverage he or she deserves, requiring the individual to seek legal advice and help pursuing a claim either for workers’ compensation coverage or for compensation for the cost of an injury and related expenses.
Misclassified workers miss out on many different benefits that other workers receive. They don’t have access to overtime pay or unemployment insurance. They may not have access to workers’ compensation or health insurance. Even the state loses money since the employer isn’t paying taxes for the worker.
Employee misclassification isn’t actually illegal in North Carolina. However, those who believe they are misclassified can make a complaint with the Employee Classification Section of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The ECS then investigates the claim, which can lead to an employer reclassifying an employee properly.
How could you be misclassified? Imagine this: You come to a site to work every day at the same time. You’re expected to arrive on time and do the same work each day. There is no termination date on your contract, and you’re treated, on the whole, as a normal employee. The difference is that you don’t get any of the employee benefits you should be receiving.
Independent contractors are their own bosses; they have the right to accept or decline work. If you don’t have that option, then you may be working as an employee but be misclassified, which is something that should be addressed.
Source: The Progressive Pulse, “North Carolina takes step forward in addressing worker misclassification,” Carol Brooke, accessed Sep. 29, 2016
Many construction sites in North Carolina are dangerous places. This is why personal protective equipment like hard hats and safety glasses exist. However, even with the proper use of safety equipment, workplace accidents can and do occur. It is safe to say that most construction companies strive to keep their workers safe, but unforeseen safety hazards may still be present. This blog post will examine some of the most common workplace accidents that could lead to serious injury. Hopefully, this information will help reduce injuries by keeping workers and supervisors aware of the dangers.
Falling is one of the most frequent workplace accidents in the construction industry. Working at elevated heights puts workers at particular risk for this kind of accident. Using safety equipment and avoiding complacency can reduce falling accidents.
Falling tools and construction-related debris can also cause serious injury at construction sites. Even small objects can become deadly when they fall from high places and strike a worker. Hard hats are crucial in preventing or reducing falling object accidents.
Construction workers are also at risk of being injured in explosions and fires. Common reasons these incidents occur include exposed wires, flammable materials and chemicals and leaky pipes. Stay on the lookout for early indicators of fires and explosions.
Often, the equipment construction workers rely on can cause injuries. Examples of these kinds of workplace accidents include nail gun misfires and faulty heavy equipment. Proper maintenance and equipment inspections can go a long way towards reducing equipment-related workplace accidents.
While construction in North Carolina is safer than ever before, it takes vigilance on the part of everyone to reduce risks as much as possible. Workers should take comfort in knowing that workers’ compensation is available if injury does occur and a lawyer can help get the process started.
Source: FindLaw, “Common Construction Injury Types,” accessed Sep. 19, 2016
Amputations caused by workplace accidents impact the victim in more ways than one. If the body part can’t be reattached, the victim must suffer with the loss of fingers, toes, hands or other body parts. Nerve damage can result, leaving the victim in pain or struggling to deal with unusual sensations. Some people may be permanently disfigured and unable to work, while others have to find new ways to enjoy the things they liked to do in the past.
Workers should be protected against operational hazards in the workplace. Machines in particular should have guards in place at all times. There are several kinds, including fixed, adjustable, self-adjusting and interlocked guards, which should prevent amputation injuries if they’re being used correctly.
Guards effectively stop and prevent equipment from operating when a person’s hands or other body parts enter the hazard area. The guard may trigger an immediate stop, which prevents the person from suffering a serious injury. Others set off an alarm or pause production.
Workers who interact with hazards should be trained in how to use the machines with the guards in place. Working around the guards, removing the guards or ignoring safety techniques is hazardous and should be against company policy.
If you’re a victim of an amputation, don’t think that you have to face this alone. It’s important for you to get the care you need to recover. Our website has more information on how you can obtain workers’ compensation or other kinds of damages, so you can focus on getting well instead of thinking about the cost of your treatment.
Toxic exposure can lead to a number of serious injuries and illnesses. Workplaces with toxic substances present should have safety features in place to prevent exposure. Despite this, workers in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous items at work every day; some are injured by the exposure and live a life with disabilities or chronic health conditions due to those injuries.
You have a right to know which chemicals and toxins are present in your workplace, so you can take steps to protect yourself and your coworkers. When chemicals are present, you should have access to a Material Safety Data Sheet, which gives you information on how to handle the materials and provides information on first aid after exposure, how to store and dispose the substances and what kinds of protective equipment you need to wear when handling them.
Some toxins won’t be on an MSDS list, like cleaning supplies or other items you might have around the office, particularly if you don’t typically have hazardous materials present. To find out if a product is toxic, look at its label. If there is a skull and crossbones or hazard warning, then you know that it is either poisonous or hazardous to humans. Why would there be unusual products in the office? Simple things, like fly spray or ant killers, might be used, or perhaps your boss decided to use a new window cleaner or other cleaning supplies. An MSDS sheet might not be present in that case, so take care to read the labels. Employers should brief coworkers on safety if necessary.
If toxic chemicals have to be used in the workplace, it’s important that they are isolated and used in well-ventilated areas. When toxins can be replaced by safer alternatives, that should happen to prevent injuries. With the right preventative actions, you can stay safe with these items in the workplace.
Source: FindLaw, “Toxic Exposure in the Workplace,” accessed Sep. 07, 2016
Connect with us
- September 2025
- August 2025
- April 2025
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- October 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- September 2018
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
Archives
