Florida workers compensation reforms a mixed bag of results
June 5, 2008 08:56

Workers' compensation reforms in Florida do not appear to have affected the cost per claim in the 2005-06 fiscal year, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute.

The average cost per claim in 2005-06, the second year following the reforms increased five percent after falling nearly five percent in 2004-05.

The Workers Compensation Research Institute issues a benchmark survey on workers' compensation costs based on a review of claims in 14 states, including Florida. The full benchmark report is available online at the Workers' Compensation Research Institute Web site.

Tags: Florida workers' compensation, workers comp reform

Knowing Triggers For Back Injuries Can Help Prevent Them
June 9, 2008 08:33

Back injuries are a common cause of workplace injuries and workers' compensation claims, accounting for a fifth to a quarter of all claims.Back injuries can occur in any type of working environment to employees of all ages. Someone who does manual labor can... (Read Article)

Fixing Workers' Compensation in New Jersey
June 13, 2008 12:57

The Star-Ledger in New Jersey, which recently published an investigation into the inner workers and problems within the state's workers' compensation system poses the question - "How can the workers' compensation system be fixed?"

It's an excellent question that many states - and countless injured workers - are trying to answer.

To try to answer that most important question, the newspaper invited comments from injured workers, workers' compensation attorneys, concerned citizens and others with knowledge of or opinions about the system.

Those comments are available online at the newspaper's Web site, and you're also invited to leave your input and feedback about what needs to be done to fix workers' compensation in New Jersey and in other states.

Related Topics: workers' compensation reform, workers' compensation, New Jersey workers' compensation, workers' compensation attorney, workers' compensation lawyer, injured worker, workplace injury

United Airlines fined for safety violations
June 15, 2008 08:56

United Airlines has been fined $215,500 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for "alleged multiple serious and repeat violations of federal workplace safety standards."OSHA inspectors reviewed occupational injury and illness data on ramp... (Read Article)

Firefighters Battle Freezing Blaze in Plant Fire
June 17, 2008 10:30

Firefighters battling a blaze at a seafood processing plant were exposed to sub-zero temperatures and other dangerous working conditions.

It's unclear whether there were any injuries in the blaze, either to firefighters or to plant workers.

Conditions were dangerously cold for firefighters in Delcambre this weekend. A bizarre situation for crews, who are used to working in extreme heat.

The fire Saturday at Ocean Harvest seafood processing plant sparked a CO2 leak. The business is located along Wilford Landry Road. The gas, also known as dry ice in its solid state, was used as a refrigerant for the seafood.

Officials said temperatures dropped as low as negative 109 degrees. Several local agencies assisted firefighters to get the situation under control.

Tags: workers' compensation benefits, injured worker, workplace dangers, workplace injury, workers' compensation attorney, plant fire

Survey finds majority of Americans unprepared for disability
June 19, 2008 08:45

Survey finds majority of Americans unprepared for disabilityA new study by the nonprofit LIFE Foundation found that the vast majority of working Americans-nearly 80 percent-would turn to the government or their employer if disabled, rather than disability insurance... (Read Article)

Construction Accident - Construction Accident Cases - Construction Accident Lawyers
June 24, 2008 12:57

Construction Accident Cases - Getting The Negligent Party To Pay

There are more than 1,000 construction accident cases every year. Any accident that occurs on a construction site is termed as a construction accident case. The victims could include construction workers working on the site or workers who are not working on that site. Very often bystanders also become victims of construction accidents.

Nature Of Accidents

Construction accidents could take the form of any one of the following:
• Falling from a scaffolding
• Electrocution
• Exposure to asbestos and other hazardous chemicals
• Being hit by some falling equipment or debris
• Being knocked down by a machinery
• Handling faulty machinery or equipment

Construction accidents are often very serious and lead to disability and loss of income. Fractures, burns, and back injuries are some of the common injuries that many construction accident victims sustain during the accident. If you are a victim of a construction accident, you should not just become a statistics for construction accident cases. It is important to hold the negligent party responsible for the accident so that accidents can be prevented in future.

Ohio Honors Fallen Workers
June 25, 2008 08:40

Ohio recently paid tribute to workers who were killed on the job.

It's important that states do something to honor the thousands of people who are injured or killed at work every year. However, the most appropriate tribute would be to improve workplace safety and crack down on employers that are creating unsafe working conditions so that more workers and their families don't have to suffer the same fate.

The ceremony in Ohio was sponsored by the Central Ohio Labor Council at Workers Memorial Park in downtown Columbus "to pay tribute to central Ohio workers who died as a result of a workplace accident. The names of workers killed on-the-job in 2007 were read at the park's memorial wall during the ceremony."

Since 1912, Ohio's workers' compensation system has helped employers and employees cope with workplace injuries by providing safety education and medical and compensation benefits for work-related injuries, diseases and deaths.

Tags: injured workers, workers' compensation, workplace death, killed on the job, injured on the job, workplace fatality, workplace injury, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Insurers Ask for Changes to NY Workers' Comp Insurance Fund
June 26, 2008 09:29

Insurance companies in New York must be feeling competitive pressure from the New York State Insurance Fund because they've asked legislators to make changes to how the fund is operated.

Under a proposal put together by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York, oversight of the State Insurance Fund would be moved to the New York Insurance Department, which would be required to review the fund for solvency and monitor its market practices. It would also rescind a state law that requires policyholders to give the fund 30 days' notice when they cancel their policies.

Legislation making those changes was introduced earlier this month in both the State Senate and State Assembly.

The fund, which is run by the state, is self-supporting. It originally was set up to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage to companies that couldn't get coverage elsewhere because the risk of workplace injury was high. But according to insurers, "over the years, however, the fund has evolved to compete directly with private carriers and now writes an estimated 40 percent of workers compensation insurance policies in New York."

Source: Insurance Journal

Man Who Failed to Report Low-Paying Job Convicted of Workers' Comp Fraud
June 26, 2008 10:34

Workers' compensation fraud by employees is very rare. Most independent studies indicate that only 1 percent of workers' compensation fraud is committed by employees; employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors, lie about the number of people they employ or fail to carry workers' compensation insurance are responsible for most fraud.

But here's a story about a man who was convicted of collecting workers' compensation benefits that the court determined he was not entitled. However, it seems that his only crime was not revealing that he had found a low-paying job.

Henry A. Wisneski, 51, [Solvay, N.Y.], pleaded guilty to a felony count of third-degree insurance fraud. He admitted obtaining the benefits from April 2006 through November 2007 by failing to report that he was earning $75 a week on another job.

County Judge Anthony Aloi promised Wisneski a sentence of five years probation and set sentencing for June 2. The judge said Wisneski could be terminated from probation as soon as he makes full restitution.

Wisneski collected $17,000 in workers' compensation benefits that he wasn't entitled, according to the court.

Source: Syracuse.com
Topics: workers' compensation benefits, injured worker, workplace injury, workers' compensation fraud, workers' compensation attorney

Insurers Begin Battle for W. Va. Workers' Comp Business
June 29, 2008 12:54

West Virginia is preparing for a battle over workers' compensation coverage this summer. On July 1, the state will begin allowing companies other than BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company to provide workers' compensation insurance for businesses in the state.

But dozens of companies interested in entering the market have attended open market forums sponsored by the state Insurance Commission. More than 20 companies that have not previously offered insurance in West Virginia have been licensed to write workers' compensation coverage.

At least one company - Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. - is already visiting employers, seeking their business and offering quotes.

It will be interesting to see what this increased competition does to workers' compensation insurance rates in West Virginia.

Tags: West Virginia workers' compensation insurance; BrickStreet; injured workers, workers' comp

SOURCE: http://sundaygazettemail.com

Teenager dies on construction job in Massachusetts
June 30, 2008 16:22

A new report on unsafe working conditions in Massachusetts includes the heartbreaking story of a 17-year-old man who fell to his death during a roofing job last August.The report, entitled Dying for Work in Massachusetts, was compiled to highlight workplace... (Read Article)