Workers often don't envision getting hurt on the job. Some professions are more dangerous than others, though. Many employees don't realize that state law mandates that employers carry workers' compensation coverage that they can use to pay for their medical bills and cover lost wages if they get hurt on the job. Most every employer in Ohio is required to purchase such insurance coverage.
How employees bring toxic exposure home with them
Workers in Ohio and throughout America who are exposed to toxic substances may face an increased risk of getting sick. A report found that workers may be coming home with traces of toxic material on their bodies or clothes. This can cause health and development problems for children of all ages, and it could also be a hazard to others who have compromised immune systems. The report stressed that worker carelessness isn't necessarily to blame for the problem.
Potential risks of coronavirus on the job
Ohio workers may have a number of concerns about health and safety on the job, but one of them is getting attention around the world: novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV. Whenever a new viral disease emerges on a global scale, new analysis can be important to determine how it could affect workers on the job. Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus developed, has seen severe restrictions on public activity and interaction in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading. Health care workers, however, have remained at particular risk. Official records note that 16 health workers were already infected as of early February 2020, some of them before the new disease was fully identified.
Construction workers threatened by poor air quality
Construction workers in Ohio may face a number of hazards on the job, from unsafe working conditions to unstable equipment to poor air quality. During a construction project, workers can be exposed to toxic chemicals, silica dust, gases and other contaminants. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has created recommendations for acceptable indoor environmental quality during a building or renovation process. There are several factors that could contribute to dangerously poor air quality on a construction job, including a lack of action to control dust or the use of building materials that emit a significant amount of gases or contaminants.
How breweries can better comply with OSHA rules
Craft breweries in Ohio and throughout the country must generally adhere to safety standards set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, there are some safety standards that breweries have historically had trouble staying in compliance with. For instance, those who are asked to clean silos, mash turns or kettles are typically working in what OSHA would consider to be a confined space.
The right approach to obtaining workers' compensation benefits
Workplace accidents that lead to injuries are, unfortunately, quite common. There are, of course, certain areas of work in which it is more common for workplace accidents to occur, such as in the construction and industrial areas, but the fact is that workplace injuries can occur in many areas of employment. Workers can fall, have something fall on them, be injured by machinery, or even suffer injuries due to repetitive motions, among many other scenarios. When workers in Ohio suffer injuries and need to miss work as a result, they may be eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits.
Ohio Supreme Court rules in favor of injured worker
The success of a workers' compensation claim depends largely on the evaluation of the injury or disability made by doctors. As a result, it is common for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation to either deny a workers' compensation claim completely or award a compensation amount that is much less than adequate for the injury suffered by a worker based on those medical evaluations. However, a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Ohio may be of interest to many workers in and around Columbus.
Out-of-state workers and workers' compensation in Ohio
Nowadays, it is common for many workers to cross state borders in search of work. Most of them do so in the hope of making a better living than they can in their home state. While they may receive a better opportunity in a different state, they remain exposed to various workplace hazards, regardless of whether they are working in their home state or in another state.
Worker injured in lawn mower accident succumbs to injuries
Sometimes even the most peaceful and uneventful work environments can be the location of a deadly workplace accident. For example, how often does one think of a city park employee being injured or dying while performing duties?
OSHA imposes fine in excess of $1.3 million on company
Accidents can happen at any type of workplace. No employer can make a workplace entirely safe. However, employers do have a legal duty to follow safety regulations and make their workplaces reasonably safe. When they breach their duties, they may face fines under state and federal law.
