Georgia Workers Compensation Attorney Blog

Our Atlanta work accident lawyers know that teens have had a difficult time finding jobs in recent years due to a tough economy and a weak employment market. According to a recent article on NBC News, however, things may be different this year.

The NBC News article indicates that the economic momentum over the last several months has been positive and that managers who hire summer hourly workers are reporting that they plan to add an average of 30 hourly workers this summer instead of the 27 workers added last year. When surveying seasonal hiring managers, 68 percent also reported an intent to hire workers this summer. This is great news for teens who have been hit the hardest in recent years by the economic downturn.

The bad news, however, is that when there are more teenagers going to work, there is a greater chance of young people being injured on the job. Employers need to manage the risks associated with bringing on new employees, especially teen employees, and young workers need to be aware of the dangers they face, which could derail a career and future before it even has a chance to really begin.

Young Workers at Risk of Injury
Young workers are at great risk of injury while performing their summer jobs for several reasons. One issue is that these workers tend to take on lower paying and physical jobs in industries such as landscaping and fast food. Both of these industries have a high rate of injury. In fast food, many things can go wrong from slipping and falling in a restaurant to being robbed to getting hurt when cooking and cleaning up in the kitchen. In landscaping, problems can include injury due to machines as well as due to repetitive stress, lifting injuries and falls.

Aside from the fact that teens tend to work in dangerous industries, they also tend to be in low paying jobs where employers may not always have the best track record of following safety rules. Data has shown that low-wage workers in general are at greater risk of getting hurt on the job than workers in higher paying positions, especially higher paying white-collar jobs.

Finally, teens and young workers tend to have limited work experience. If not properly trained and supervised, teens could make a mistake that causes injury. For example, a teen needs to be trained on using commercial dishwashers and/or supervised when using any type of cooking or dishwashing equipment in a restaurant setting.

Employers who chose to hire young workers ultimately have the responsibility of mitigating these and other risks that teenagers face. Employers need to be aware of restrictions on young workers related to the types of jobs they can do and the hours worked. They need to provide proper training and supervision and create a safe work environment. If an employer fails in these obligations, the chances of a worker becoming hurt significantly increases.

Continue reading "More Teens with Jobs This Summer Means More Risk of Injury" »

With summer approaching, many people will be hiring landscapers to do stonework. Stone cutters and splitters who do this type of work may find themselves busier during the summer rush as a result. OSHA has an important Safety and Health Information Bulletin for those who work in the stone cutting and splitting industry and as the busy season approaches, every worker and employer should pay attention to OSHA's advice.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation lawyers know that stone cutters use many dangerous machines in the course of performing their jobs. Unfortunately, the physical nature of the work, coupled with the tools utilized, creates a situation where many stone cutters are hurt. By following the OSHA guidelines on safety, however, hopefully injuries can be prevented during the summer landscaping season.

The Work Injury Dangers for Stone Cutters
Stone cutters, stone masons, stone slippers and rock cutters all use certain types of tools and machinery when performing their jobs. For example, portable or fixed hydraulic rams are typically used to split stones. When using hydraulic rams, amputation or other injuries are a real possibility. Stone cutting machines that have unguarded cutting blades are also likely to cause serious harm when not used properly or when safety measures are lacking.

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that more that 180 injuries resulted from using shears in 2010. Shears are a very similar tool to those used by stone cutters. Of those injured with shears, 100 amputated a body part. The injuries, therefore, are serious and can have a lasting impact on your life in many cases.

Staying Safe
While the work done by stone cutters carries some inherent risk, this doesn't mean that workplaces cannot be made safer by taking the right precautionary steps. OSHA's Safety and Health Bulletin suggests:

• Ensuring that there is a good machine guarding system in place. A machine guarding system might involve making use of two-handed starting devices; installing barrier guards on the machine, and incorporating electronic safety devices.
• Keeping the unit cleaned and maintained. A regular inspection should be performed to ensure that the machine is in good working order. Problems should be fixed when they arise so workers do not have to use a dangerous or broken machine.
• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers. Employers should provide workers with PPE that protects them from known-hazards. The use of safety shields or face shields, for example, is recommended.
• Doing a risk-check before starting work. Essentially, this means making sure that the machine and safety procedures are in place. Checking the machine guarding, reading/reviewing the manufacturers' warnings and instructions; inspecting the machine and making sure workers are where they need to be are all important things to double check.

Employers also need to provide adequate training and supervision to their employees who are performing stone cutting work. Although individual workers can and should try to protect themselves and make sure their job is performed as safely as possible, ultimately it is the employers who establish working conditions and who are responsible for helping workers to avoid injury.

Continue reading "Stone Cutter Injuries and Landscaping Accidents a Spring Risk in Atlanta" »

On March 12, 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that hiring in certain sectors started to pick up in January, although the overall hiring rate remained fairly stagnant. The BLS also reported that number of job openings in January was up in many sectors, indicating that more qualified workers may soon be finding positions if they haven't already.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys know that new workers coming onto a worksite may be at risk of being injured because they are unfamiliar with procedures and customs at their new workplace. This is especially true of the long-term unemployed who may have been out of the workforce for a lengthy period of time, with skills getting rusty, as they awaited improvement in the economy and a new job. As employers begin to bring in new hires, it is thus essential for worker safety to remain a top priority.

Work Safety Needs to Remain a Top Focus
According to the March 12, 2013 press release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• There were 3.7 million available job openings on the last business day of the month of January. This reflects little change from the end of December.
• The hires rate of 3.1 percent and the separations rate of 3 percent also did not show any significant changes from the end of December to the end of January.
• The number of job openings available in January rose in certain sectors including the professional and business services sector.
• The number of job openings in January decreased in the areas of health care and social assistance.
• The number of job openings, not seasonally adjusted, in January increased over the course of the year in non-farm jobs, in private jobs and in government jobs.
• There were increases in available work opportunities and jobs in the retail sector; in other services and in the federal government. There was a decrease in jobs in the fields of mining and logging.

As this data shows, some workplaces are not expanding while others are increasing their hiring and creating a situation where new employees assume duties.

Workplace Safety Should be a Top Focus
In workplaces where the number of jobs are declining, workplace safety must be maintained even in the face of a smaller workforce. This means making sure that workers aren't overworked and that people aren't assigned to do tasks that they don't have proper training for.

As hiring grows, workplaces bringing on new workers also face their own challenges in staying focused on safety. Even with the administrative costs associated with growth, employers still must be sure that safety programs remain in place and that the work environment complies with all OSHA guidelines. All new hires also need to be properly trained and adequately supervised when first hired to make sure that they are not at risk of getting hurt or causing harm to others as a result of their inexperience.

By making sure to stay focused on safety, companies will be poised to deal with any economic news that comes their way, including an increase in business growth that boosts their employee numbers. Keeping workers safe should always be he top priority under any situation.

Continue reading "Work Safety Must Remain a Top Priority as Hiring Picks Up" »

With spring around the corner, and multiple major construction projects already underway on Georgia highways, it's an opportune time to remind motorists to slow down in work zones.

Our Atlanta work accident lawyers know that 85 percent of all work zone deaths across the country are caused by the general public. Since Georgia began to tally the number of Department of Transportation fatalities back in 1973, there have been 57 workers killed in work zones. There have been countless injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that from 2003 through 2007, some 640 road construction workers across the country lost their lives, with nearly half of those occurring when a worker was hit by a motor vehicle. Another 40,000 people are believed to have suffered serious injuries as a result of work zone crashes (that includes both workers and drivers).

When you factor in both the public and workers, Georgia loses an average of 60 people each year in work zone crashes. Making the public aware of these sobering statistics - and what more they can be doing to keep these workers safe - is going to be key as we move ahead into the busier summer season.

Right now, the state DOT has six major road construction projects in the Metro Atlanta area, and two more going on statewide.

There is the road resurfacing project on I-25 that stretches from Cobb to DeKalb Counties. There is also the Johnson Ferry/Abernathy Road Widening Project in Atlanta, the Northside Drive project in Cobb/Fulton, the Old Alabama Road Project in Fulton, a number of State Route 20 improvements in both Fulton and Cherokee and updates to the State Route 316 Interchange.

Drivers should avail themselves of information on possible delays or detours by visiting the DOT's active projects page. This way, if you know you are going to be pressing your luck with time, you won't be tempted to speed through a work zone, as you'll already have an alternate route planned. (Speeding in a Georgia work zone, by the way, may result in fines of up to $2,000 or a maximum of one year in jail or both.)

Also note that Georgia is one of many states with a "Move Over Law." This law requires any driver approaching a working emergency vehicle on the side of the road to move over one lane if possible, or otherwise slow to below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop if necessary. While it's not necessary to move over a lane when you see construction workers on the job, if traffic conditions would allow you to do so safely, it wouldn't hurt.

Other tips the Georgia DOT asks that you keep in mind as you approach a highway work zone:

• Slow down. Excessive speed is the No. 1 most common cause of work zone crashes.


• Make sure you have read all the signs. They are in place for your safety. If you are traveling too fast to read them, you probably need to slow down.


• Pace yourself. If you are tailgating other drivers or construction vehicles, you're putting all involved at higher risk for a crash.


• Road crew flaggers should be treated as if they are traffic signals. Their signs are not suggestions - the law requires you obey them.


• Pay attention. Put your phone done. Especially when you are traveling through a highway work zone, you can't afford to miss a moment.

Continue reading "Atlanta Work Zone Crashes Can Prove Fatal; Slow Down, Pay Attention" »

The Norfolk Southern Railway Co. has been ordered to fork over more than $1 million to three former employees who were fired after they reported workplace injuries.

Our Atlanta work injury lawyers know that the railway firm is one of the largest in in the country, covering a large swath of the East Coast and stretching into the Midwest. Headquartered in Virginia, it employes some 30,000 union workers.

Workers employed by rail companies are protected from retaliation for reporting workplace injuries or safety violations under the Federal Railroad Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. 20109. Part of the law has to do with reporting fraud, abuse and waste. Under Section (b) 1-3, rail companies are not allowed to fire, demote, reprimand, suspend or in any other way discriminate against a worker who:

• In good faith reports a dangerous safety or security issue;


• Refuses to work in hazardous safety conditions or when there is an unaddressed security issue;


• Refuses to authorize the use of any safety-related equipment, structures or track if those materials are deemed unsafe.

In fact, the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration reports that this firm has had an extensive history of doing this, and that the result has been "a chilling effect in the railroad industry."

And yet, these brave workers still stood for what was right and chose to come forward.

The first of these was a crane operator in Indiana. He was reportedly operating a crane while helping to build a bridge when flecks of metal and rust entered his eye. He reportedly had to undergo a procedure to have the material removed. When he reported this to his employer, he was taken out of service for a short time before he was fired, with the company reportedly finding that the worker had "made false statements" about his injuries. But when OSHA conducted its investigation, inspectors determined that if the worker had not reported his injury, he would never have been fired.

As such, OSHA determined he was owed roughly $440,000 in damages, including $100,000 for compensatory damages, $175,000 in punitive damages, about $156,000 in benefits and back wages and $6,000 in penalties that he incurred when he had to cash in savings bond prior to their maturity date after he'd been fired. The company has also been ordered to give him his job back, along with the sick and vacation days he would have earned up to this point.

The second and third cases stemmed from the same incident. One was a welder and a welder's helper, based out of Pennsylvania. Both had been nearly four decades with the company without any problems. Then one day while they were riding in a company truck, another vehicle ran a red light, slamming into another vehicle which then slammed into the company truck. At first, the workers reported only minor pain and stiffness and soreness. They initially declined to receive any medical treatment. But then pain for both intensified and they both ended up getting treatment in a local hospital. When this was reported to superiors, they were placed on leave. An internal investigation found them guilty of giving false reports about their injuries, which the firm indicated was akin to misconduct. They were subsequently fired.

OSHA, however, found that the pair were fired for reporting their injuries. The agency was ordered to pay the two approximately $685,000 in damages, with $300,000 of that in punitive damages.

The company has also been ordered to post employee whistleblower protection rights at each work site and train workers on their rights under FRSA.

Continue reading "Norfolk Southern Railway to Pay $1.1M For Violations of FRSA" »

In the case of Evergreen Packaging Inc. v. Prather, the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld an employee's right to workers' compensation benefits, even when the root of the injury was a pre-existing condition.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation lawyers know that the key in this case was that the work performed had changed from the norm and thus aggravated an old injury. So even though the original injury was old (and in fact, a separate claim had been paid out on it several years earlier), the fact that the worker was re-injured on the job was enough to secure additional benefits.

Court documents in this case reveal that the employee first started working at the milk and juice carton manufacturer back in the mid-1970s. Then in 2002, while working in the warehouse loading trucks, he hurt his back while operating a forklift. This prevented him from working for sometime. He was granted temporary total disability benefits for a little over a month, and his employer also covered his medical expenses.

(Injuries from forklifts, by the way, account for an estimated 85 fatalities annually, as well as nearly 35,000 serious injuries and 62,000 non-serious injuries, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.)

So after this incident, the employee continued his work, though he soon applied for and received a new position as a plate maker. This position required the worker to bend all the way to floor and then lift boxes weighing between 30 to 50 pounds up over his head and into certain bins.

The two positions were quite different, both in responsibilities and in physical demand. While he said his back continued to bother him from the initial injury, it got progressively worse as he continued in his new role.

Still, he only missed a total of a week's worth of work during that time.

But in his final two years with the company, the firm purchased a new piece of equipment that reportedly required him to bend down farther than he had before. This aggravated his back condition greatly. At times, he said, his entire backside all the way down to his feet was going numb.

In 2010, he sought medical help from a chiropractor. After four treatments, the doctor recommended he stop working and diagnosed him with degenerative disc disease that was due to an old injury that had been exacerbated by additional injuries. A second doctor recommended the same. A subsequent MRI, when compared to a similar image five years earlier, showed a significant increase in stenosis and disc extrusion. There was also an additional tear in the tissue that wasn't there previously.

The worker was awarded disability benefits right away, but the company appealed, saying that he shouldn't be compensated twice for the same injury. A change in condition, they argued, wouldn't entitle the worker to a new "date of injury," which would mean his statute of limitations to collect benefits would have already run out.

However, both the State Board of Workers' Compensation as well as the Georgia Appellate Court sided with the worker. While a change in condition relative to the initial injury would have likely resulted in denial of benefits to the worker, the fact that he had incurred aggravation to an old injury as a result of his work meant that he was again eligible for benefits.

Continue reading "Court: New Work Injury Means New Workers' Compensation Filing" »

Under Georgia laws, employees are covered under a benefits system called workers' compensation that entitles them to have their medical bills paid after a work injury. Employees are also provided with temporary or permanent benefits for total or partial disability as well as various other types of compensation.

The key word here, however, is that EMPLOYEES are covered. Those who perform work but who are not classified as employees aren't entitled to workers' compensation benefits and after a work injury are either on their own in paying for the costs or are left to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against one or more parties, which requires a showing of negligence that is not required in workers' comp cases.

Because the employee designation is so important, our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys urge every employee and every employer to understand exactly when someone is classified as an employee.

Understanding Your Classification
In many cases, whether someone is an employee or not is a relatively straightforward question. If someone is hired to work full time, given a salary or a regular hourly wage and has no designated end date in site for the work term, that person is pretty obviously an employee.

However, there are plenty of situations where things become much more complicated. For example:

• One issue is the holiday season that is slowly drawing to a close. Employers tend to bring in temporary help during the holidays, such as hiring more people for the big shopping season.


• Seasonal employees also raise more complicated questions. For example, if a business hires snowplow workers in the winter but doesn't need them in the summer, these employees have a designated work period but not an indefinite gig.

The Rules for Independent Contractors
If you are hired and aren't certain whether you are an employee or not, it is helpful to understand some of the basic rules that have been developed. In general:

• Temporary employees, seasonal employees and part time employees are all covered under workers' compensation.


• Independent contractors are NOT covered under workers' compensation.

An independent contractor is someone who performs work for a company but who maintains their autonomy. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets forth some guidelines for when someone is considered an independent contractor, as opposed to an employee. These guidelines look at:

• Whether the company has the right to control the behavior of the worker or whether the company just issues an assignment and the worker has autonomy to do the assignment when and how he wants.


• Whether the company has control over how the worker is paid or whether the worker sets his own rates, pays his own expenses, etc.


• What type of relationship the employer and worker has, including whether there are written contracts and whether the work performed by the worker is a key aspect of the business.

These and other issues can be considered in determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor for workers' compensation purposes. Being incorrectly classified can result in a worker being deprived of workers' compensation benefits and can be detrimental to the rights of the worker. Those who believe they have been incorrectly classified, therefore, need to get legal help to determine if they really are entitled to workers' compensation benefits.

Continue reading "Your Status as an Employee Can Impact Workers' Compensation Benefits" »

Throughout the United States, truck drivers are the primary movers of goods and raw materials. Some of these truck drivers are independent contractors, working for themselves and with the freedom to take transport jobs from any company Others, however, are employed by trucking companies, retailers, shipping companies or countless other employers who have their own professional drivers on staff.

Regardless of who a trucker works for, he is at risk of suffering certain injuries while performing his job. However, a trucker's employment status matters after he has suffered a workplace injury because those who are employed by a trucking company may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys want truckers to understand their legal rights after a work injury. We also want to caution truck drivers about some of the most common causes of workplace injury so they can take proper precautions to stay safe.

Truck Drivers and Workplace Injuries
Truck drivers are at risk for a variety of different injuries including:

• Injuries when loading and unloading their truck


• Injuries caused by violent crime while driving their truck


• Injuries due to falling merchandise during the transport


• Injuries when performing truck inspections or addressing basic maintenance issues.


• Slip and fall injuries while on the truck or at the loading facility

While all of these are possible ways in which a trucker can get hurt at work, one of the most common sources of injuries for truckers is traffic accidents. After all, a truck driver spends the vast majority of his career driving his vehicle, thus increasing the chances he'll be involved in some type of traffic crash.

Traffic Accidents and Truck Drivers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks statistics on traffic accidents and fatalities. Statistics released this month for the 2011 calendar year held some bad news for truck drivers -- the number of fatalities increased significantly. In fact, the number of fatalities among occupants of large trucks was up almost 20 percent in 2011.

This increase in trucking accidents is alarming as it means that truck drivers may be in more danger of a fatal traffic accident than in the past. The NHTSA is working with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to try to identify reasons for the significant increase in fatalities.

When a truck driver is killed in a traffic accident, his surviving family members may be eligible for workers' compensation death benefits. In addition, a trucker who is the victim of a crash may also be able to make a workers' comp claim for medical bills and lost wages. The ability of the trucker or surviving family members to make a workers' compensation claim is going to depend upon whether the crash is considered to be work related and on whether he is classified as a covered employee.

Negligence is not a determining factor in workers' comp cases, so a trucker could potentially still make a workers' comp claim in some cases even if there was no negligence on the part of the employer or if the truck driver's own conduct contributed to the crash.

Continue reading "Truck Drivers at Risk of Work Injury in Georgia" »

The number of young workers, those between the ages of 16- and 24-years-old, has been on the rise. With summer break and kids out of school, we saw an increase in the number of these employed workers. During this time, there were close to 20 million employed. This served as a near 2 percent increase from April to July.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about half of all of these young people were employed in the month of July. This is typically when we see the most young workers, because of break. This is also a time when college students start looking for their dream job and enter the world of full-time permanent employment. From April to July of 2012, the increase in employment among these young workers totaled more than 836,000.

Many teens and young adults will be headed back to school, or off to college, and will again be switching jobs this fall.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys understand that these young workers face some of the highest risks for work accidents. They are not experienced members of the workforce and they oftentimes don't understand their rights as a U.S. worker.

With these kids accounting for nearly 15 percent of the total work population in the country, it's important for employers to follow rules, regulations and specific safety standards for young workers.

Young Worker Stats, July 2012:

-Nearly 65 percent of young men were employed.

-Nearly 60 percent of young women were employed.

-More than 60 percent of young whites were employed.

-Close to 55 percent of young blacks were employed.

-More than 43 percent of your Asians were employed.

-More than 57 percent of young Hispanics were employed.

-Roughly 19.5 million young workers were employed.

-More than 2 million workers were employed this year compared to July of 2011.

-More than 25 percent of young workers held positions in the leisure and hospitality sector. This sector includes food services.

-There were 4 million young people not employed during this time, leaving the unemployment rate at just over 17 percent.

Employers are to remember that these young workers are subject to a different set of rules than adult workers. For 16- and 17-year old kids, they're not allowed to work during school hours. When they're in school, they're not allowed to work more than 30 hours a week. They're also not allowed to work more than 6 days in a row. When they're on the job, they're not allowed to work more than 4 hours in a row without being allowed a 30 minutes, uninterrupted break.

Even when these young workers turn 18, they're still under strict guidelines. They're not allowed to work in positions that involve working with explosives, motor vehicles, scaffolding demolition, mining, power-driven meat processing machines, excavation, wrecking, firefighting, woodwork, metal-forming, etc.

Parents are asked to talk with their young workers about the risks they're likely to face on the job. Make sure that your young worker is aware of his or her rights on the job and how they're supposed to be treated. Young workers may be hesitant to speak up about work-related hazards in fear of losing their job or being retaliated against. Make sure they know that it's their right and it's imperative to their safety that they step forward with these concerns.

Continue reading "Young Employers and Work Injuries in Georgia" »

Spurill Products Inc. was recently cited for more than 25 safety and health violations for exposing workers to risks of work accidents in Atlanta. The company's manufacturing facility in Atlanta was under investigation starting in January as a part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Site-Specific Targeting Program.

This program directs enforcement efforts and resources to work areas that have reported higher-than-average rates of on-the-job injuries, illnesses and fatalities. All of the fines totaled more than $86,000.

The company was slapped with 5 repeat violations. These violations included neglecting to make sure that workers were wearing both eye and face protection, for failing to create and enforce "lockout/tagout" procedures for the energy sources of equipment before workers were going to perform maintenance and service duties, for neglecting to provide employees with the proper training and for not using the proper safeguard equipment on band saws, press brakes and presses.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation lawyers understand that the company was also cited for letting employees do work on floors in the paint area that were covered with slippery liquids and coating. All of these citations came with proposed fines of nearly $40,000. The government says all of these violations were repeat violations, meaning that the company or the employer had already been cited for these same, or very similar, violations at least once in the last 5 years. Some of the same violations were recorded by this company back in 2008.

Employers are required, under federal law, to make sure that dangers and hazards on the work site are minimized. When risks are blatantly ignored, not only do they run the risks for being busted by federal officials and slapped with appropriate fines, but they also run the risks of injuring employees. Workers need to be aware of their rights and need to speak up if they observe dangerous working conditions.

The company was also slapped with another 16 violations for:

-Neglecting to enact a comprehensive hearing conservation program.

-Neglecting to provide the proper medical evaluations for employees who wore tight-fitting respirators.

-Neglecting to make sure that workers were provided with the proper hand protection while they were handling phosphoric acids and powder paints.

-Neglecting to provide employees with an emergency eye-wash station.

-Neglecting to properly store acetylene and oxygen cylinders.

-Neglecting to provide employees with the proper training regarding chemical hazards.

-Exposing workers to a number of trip and fall hazards.

-Neglecting to safe guard machinery.

-Improperly using relocatable power taps to power industrial equipment.

All of the listed citations came with fines totaling more than $47,500. All of these serious violations are the result of a hazard that the employer knew of or should have known about.

"Employers are responsible for ensuring that employees have a safe and healthful work environment," said OSHA's Atlanta Area Office Director, Bill Fulcher.

Continue reading "Company Fined for Ignoring Risks of Work Accidents in Atlanta" »

The summer is here and it's getting hot out there. Some of our states hardest workers know all too well. Our temps are sitting at about 90 degrees day after day. With the hot, hot heat comes some serious risks for work accidents in Atlanta and elsewhere.

Each and every year, there are thousands of employees across the country who get sick and are injured because they are overexposed to heat on the job. Some of these victims even die. The good news is that these kinds of accidents are completely preventable. It just takes the right knowledge, education and awareness!

According to the United States Department of Labor, virtually anyone can become the victim of a heat-related injury at work. Employees who are exposed to hot and humid conditions have the worst risks. If you complete heavy tasks or wear bulky protective clothing on the job, you're at an even higher risk. If you're required to work under these conditions, it's important that you build up your tolerance for the heat and that you're aware of what to do in the event of one of these accidents.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys understand that sometimes sweating just isn't enough to help the body to cool itself. When working in these high temps that we've been seeing in recent weeks in the state of Georgia, a workers' body temperature can rise and can reach dangerous and even deadly levels if the proper safety precautions are not taken. These kinds of injuries can sneak up on you, so you've got to be aware.

Heat illnesses can range from heat exhaustion to heat rash to heat stroke. It's when a worker suffers from heat stroke that death can result. This kind of injury requires immediate medical attention.

So how do you help to prevent heat illnesses?

-Remember these three words: Water. Rest. Shade.

-Drink plenty of water throughout your work day.

-When it's hot, make sure you take frequent breaks.

-Always rest in the shade.

-Limit your time working in the heat.

-Make sure there's an emergency plan in place at your work site.

-Gradually build up your tolerance to working in hot conditions.

-Complete heavy work in the beginning of the day.

-Allow new workers to get acclimated to the work conditions.

-Educate everyone on the work site about the symptoms of a heat-related illness.

-Train everyone in the proper steps to take following a heat-related illness.

How to recognize heat illnesses:

-Weakness.

-Tiredness.

-Pale skin color.

-Sweating profusely.

-Slurred Speech.

-Headache.

-Confusion.

-Dizziness.

-Muscle Cramps.

-Hallucinations.

-Chills.

-Rapid, shallow breathing.

-Light-headedness.

-Fainting.

-Muscle Spasms.

-Red blisters (like pimples) on the skin.

Employees are urged to keep an eye on one another to help to catch these conditions before it's too late. Employers are required to provide workers with the appropriate work conditions and safety procedures to make sure that these accidents don't happen in the first place. Be safe out there!

Continue reading "Work Injuries in Atlanta More Likely with Rising Temps" »

Traffic-related accidents are the leading cause of death and injury for workers in the country. As our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys have been discussing recently, the National Safety Council (NSC) is raising awareness about the leading causes of unintentional injuries on the job through National Safety Month.

During the last week of the campaign, from June 24th through the 30th, officials focused on workers who sit behind the wheel. Driving is actually one of the most dangerous tasks that each of us will do each day, whether it's for work or for pleasure. The NSC is here to reveal some important safety tips that can help to eliminate the risks for these kinds of accidents.

About 25 percent of all car accidents in Atlanta and elsewhere are the result of a driver being on a cell phone. Many companies across the United States have enacted cell phone policies in their workplace to keep driving employees from being distracted by mobile devices. These policies are in place to protect the employee and to help to reduce the risks of accidents. Drivers are asked to place their cell phone on silent, to turn it off, to put it in the back seat or to store it in the glove box while traveling. Keeping your phone out of sight and out of mind will help to reduce the temptations of using it while in the driver's seat.

Safety officials also encourage drivers to change their cell phone's voicemail to alert callers that they may have missed their call because they were driving. If you must take a phone call, or even make one, you're urged to pull over, bring your car to a stop and then continue doing so.

More Safety Tips for Driving Employees:

-Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts can help to determine who will walk away from an accident and who will not. Make sure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled in.

-Avoid taking medications that can alter your abilities behind the wheel. Many medications and even over-the-counter prescriptions can hinder your ability to drive.

-Make sure you know where you are going and how you're going to get there before you start the car.

-Keep your emotions in line. If you're feeling frustrated or agitated, be sure that you don't take it out on other motorists.

-Never tailgate other drivers. Treat others and you would like to be treated.

-Use your horn sparingly.

Safe driving habits aren't only a way to help to reduce the risks of a job-related accident, they're a way to help keep our friends, families and neighbors safe.

Continue reading "Accidents in Atlanta and Elsewhere Likely for Driving Workers" »

Woodland Interiors Inc. was recently cited by officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for putting its workers at risk for fall-related work accidents in Hiram.

Safety officials witnessed these hazards when workers were putting insulation into the exterior walls of a new Aldi grocery store. Employers were working at dangerous heights and were not provided with the proper fall protection. Employers are required to take care of the proper safety precautions to keep all workers safe on the job. Failure to do so can result in serious accidents, injuries and even fatalities.

The safety inspection into the company and its work practices was all a part of OSHA's Local Emphasis Program and National Emphasis Program on falls in the construction industry. The violations came with a proposed penalty of more than $43,000.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation lawyers understand that fall-related accidents are some of the most common accidents for workers nationwide. This is especially true for those who are employed in the construction industry. In the construction industry and all others, employee safety should be the number one concern of employers. When it's not, companies get cited and fined, accidents result and employees can be seriously injured.

The company was handed close to $39,000 in willful violations for letting its workers perform their duties from an aerial lift that was close to 20 feet in the air without providing them with the proper fall protection. A company gets a willful violation when officials conclude that the employer knowingly or voluntarily disregarded law requirements and disregarded employee's safety and health.

The company was also slapped with nearly $5,000 in serious violations for not giving its workers the proper fall protection while installing siding that was more than 15 feet off the ground. A company gets a serious violation when officials conclude that there is substantial probability that serious injury or even death could result from a work-related hazard that an employer knew about or should have known about.

"Falls are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, and employers need to ensure workers are protected," said director of OSHA's local Office, Andre Richards.

Earlier this year, the Administration launched a new campaign to help to protect workers from fall-related accidents pertaining to working on roofs, scaffolds and ladders. There were more than 10,000 workers in the construction industry who were injured in fall-related accidents in just 2010. In addition to these injuries, there were nearly 300 workers who were killed in these kinds of accidents. Employees and employers are urged to check out OSHA's information web page about beneficial ways to help to prevent fall-related work accidents.

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Ergonomics: It's all about creating a work environment to reduce the risks of overexertion and other painful work injuries in Atlanta and elsewhere. To help to raise awareness about the importance of ergonomics, the National Safety Council (NSC) is using its second week of awareness to focus on just that -- ergonomics.

The entire month of June is being used as National Safety Month and safety officials with the NSC will be focusing on ways to prevent unintentional injuries. They're focusing on how to eliminate injuries both on and off the job. From the 10th through the 16th of June, officials are focusing on ergonomics and helping you to find ways to create a work place that works for you.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation attorneys understand that there are nearly 3.5 million people who end up in an emergency room every year because of overexertion. These types of injuries are easily avoided when an employee works comfortably to complete a job. Many times, these kinds of accidents happen to those who work in an office and are sitting all day at a computer. We're here to offer you a few simple tips to make your desk job a little more stress free.

Failing to set up an ergonomically correct workplace can take its toll on your body. It can damage your cartilage, joints, nerves, spinal discs, tendons, blood vessels and ligaments. These conditions are most commonly the result of working too long and performing a job that's too strenuous in the same position all day. It can be the result of making the same movements all day, from working in a position that's uncomfortable or unnatural for your body, from standing or sitting too long in a day, from repeatedly using excessive force, from experiencing long periods of vibrations or from dealing with extreme temps for a long period of time.

Would you know if you were experiencing an ergonomic condition? Maybe! Typically, these conditions leave the victim with feelings of pain, tenderness, numbness, with a loss of strength in their grip, swelling and other painful conditions.

So how do you set up your desk to avoid these conditions and these symptoms?

Desk Tips:

-Make sure you're sitting comfortably. You don't want to be sitting straight up and you definitely don't want to be learning forward.

-Try not to rest your elbows on the desk.

-Make sure that, when typing, your wrists are at a relaxed angle.

-Position your monitor so that the top of it is right above your eye level. You want to look down slightly to see the computer screen.

-Keep your most important items directly in front of you to avoid turning and twisting all day.

-Avoid reaching for items excessively all day.

-Sit with your feet planted firmly on the floor.

Making a few adjustments can make a world of difference to your work area and can help to effectively and comfortably get the job done. Share the tips above with your coworkers to make sure everyone is comfortable and safe on the job.

Continue reading "Work Accidents in Atlanta and Elsewhere Minimized with Proper Ergonomics" »

For the entire month of June, officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) are pushing the National Safety Month campaign. During this time, safety advocates with the Council are working to raise awareness about the importance of safe working conditions to reduce the risks of work accidents in Atlanta and elsewhere.

From the 10th through the 16th of June, the NSC will be holding its Ergonomics campaign. Ergonomics is designing a job and its environment to "fit" workers. It's important to do this because working in awkward positions who spend their days making awkward movements can suffer a soft tissue injury, including carpel tunnel.

Our Atlanta workers' compensation lawyers understand that poor ergonomic conditions can cause serious pain and may even lead to disability. Typically, these kinds of injuries affect the cartilage, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, tendons and joints. When work areas are not set up to work with an employee, serious injuries may result.

In general, overexertion injuries affect more than 3 million people every year. That's how many people visit an emergency room each year because of overexertion, which is the leading cause of unintentional injuries in the country.

Individuals who work in an office may be at highest risks for these kinds of accidents. It's important to make sure that your computer monitor is placed correctly. Just this one move can help to eliminate arm, eye, neck and shoulder fatigue. Consider following these tips as well to help to eliminate a work-related injury at your desk.

Ergonomics Tips:

-Adjust your computer monitor so that the top of the screen is right above eye level. You want to make sure that your eyes are looking down just a little bit when looking at the middle of the screen.

-Never keep the monitor closer than 20 inches to your face. Consider keeping it an arm's length from your eyes.

-Make sure your screen is adjusted so that there's no glare reflecting into your eyes.

-Keep the center-line of the keyboard level with the height of your elbow. Tilt the keyboard back 10° so that your wrists remain flat.

-Choose the right chair. Use an adjustable desk chair. Don't be afraid to make adjustments frequently.

-Give your eyes a rest and focus on something that's at least 20 feet away from you.

-Stand up, move around and stretch your body occasionally.

-Whatever you look at the most during the day, like the computer screen, place it directly in front of you to help to minimize turning your head.

Setting up your work station is one of the top steps to eliminating work-related accidents. Remember that even with the best work place set ups, you can still get tired muscles just from being in the same spot all day. Get up and move around, adjust your keyboard, your monitor and your chair frequently to stay flexible.

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