Workers Compensation

OSHA will begin focusing on certain non-construction companies based on 2009 injury data.  The purpose of this focused effort is to identify industries and companies with higher rates of injury and illness.  These companies will be randomly selected for inspection.  The goal is to prevent injury and provide safer conditions for workers.  http://rillara.com/workplace-safety-hazards-osha-releases-site-inspection-plan/424426/

It’s not North Carolina, as some would have you believe.  It’s Not California or any other of the usual suspects.  Montanna has the highest Worker’s Compensation premiums in the country.  Who would have thought?  http://www.belgrade-news.com/news/state_regional/article_e8520894-de18-11df-a46e-001cc4c03286.html

Whatever Indiana is doing, must be working.  Non fatal injuries have reached historic lows in Indiana.  Anybody that has suffered a work related injury knows how devastating it is both personally and to their families.  Anything that can be done to prevent injury is a good thing and benefits both employees and employers. http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=13380747

Worker’s injured in the Horizon oil rig disaster are being made offers to settle early by Transocean.  The offer is also coming with a message that current benefits being paid, will not last forever.  Lawyers for the workers see this as an attempt to place financial pressure on the workers to settle early.  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/29/prwebprweb4715244.DTL

Anti-worker sentiment is growing and being lead almost exclusively by Republicans.  If they gain control in NC’s legislature after the upcoming election, they want to decrease the benefits an injured worker receives.  That’s right, I said decrease.  If you’re an injured worker currently receiving benefits, you know the reality:  you’re barely getting enough to get

Victims of 9/11 have received settlement proceeds.  However, those settlement proceeds are subject to liens placed upon them by Worker’s Compensation Carriers.  The attorneys representing the victims of 9/11 have been successful in negotiating either a complete waiver of the lien or a substantial reduction in most cases. This is a fantastic example of attorneys

If you think you have it bad as an employee in NC, just be glad you don’t work in Texas.  Employers in Texas have the “option” of carrying WC.  Unlike NC who mandates that most employers carry WC insurance, Texas doesn’t require it at all.  http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LA/htm/LA.406.htm

The average employee spends significant amounts of time using a computer at work and at home [I should know since I’m typing this blog entry, for work, while sitting at home!]  As a consequence people are actually becoming injured due to overuse.  Strains, carpel tunnel syndrome, and other repetitive use injuries are becoming more common. 

Lawsuits are being brought against strip clubs in Massachusetts for improperly classifying its workers as independent contractors.  Employers only have to pay certain mandated benefits, including Worker’s Compensation coverage, to “employees”, but not to independent contractors.  At least one such establishment in Massachusetts was found to have incorrectly classified its workers.  Simply calling a worker

Two executives of a FL company have been sentenced to Federal Prison.  The individuals were convicted of defrauding the IRS of employment taxes.  Shell companies were created for the sole purpose of hiring illegal aliens, which allowed the company to avoid paying employment taxes on the individuals.  More prosecutions are expected as a result of