Massachusetts Workers Compensation Lawyers Blog

Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently unveiled a new educational online resource, Worker Safety in Hospitals, to help hospital workers to avoid injuries, implement safety and health management systems, enhance safe patient handling programs and assess workplace safety needs.

“These new materials can help prevent hospital worker injuries and improve patient safety, while reducing costs,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.

Our Cambridge workers’ compensation lawyers understand that there were close to 20 hospital workers killed on the job in 2012. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there were roughly 235,700 workers who were injured on the job in the same year. This is almost twice the rate for private industry. Many of these accidents, injuries and fatalities could have been prevented with better work practices.
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A final rule to update the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for power line workers has made it through the regulatory phases and could be published in March.

According to Safety and Health Magazine, the Office of Management and Budget finished its review of the Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment rule back in December and now officials with OSHA can move forward with publishing it in the Federal Register.

Our workplace accident lawyers understand that there are about 50 power line employees per 100,000 who are killed on the job each and every year. It’s clear that working on power lines can be extremely dangerous. What’s more, the pace of world change make working safely in the electric power industry even more challenging. The problem requires new thinking to improve the ranking of power line worker on the scale of most dangerous professions.
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Nail guns are used on construction sites across the county on a daily basis. Many workers hardly think twice before using time. They help to increase productivity, but they also cause tens of thousands of serious injuries each and every year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

It’s so bad one study determined 2 out of every 5 residential carpenter apprentices experience a nail gun injury at least once in a 4-year period. Unfortunately, we may never know the severity of these injuries as they’re oftentimes not treated and not reported properly.

Our workplace injury attorneys note common causes of nail gun injuries are well known and there are six practical steps that contractors can take to prevent these injuries. These include use of full sequential trigger nail guns, provide training, establish nail gun work procedures, provide personal protective equipment (PPE), encourage reporting and discussion of injuries and close calls, and provide first aid and medical treatment. These steps are simple and take very little time, but they can mean a world of difference in helping to protect your workforce.
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Officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) are working to raise awareness about the risk of the #1 cause of workplace fatalities — distracted driving.

Did you know that cell phone distracted driving policies are the best way to do just that?

Distracted working drivers cause close to 2,000 workplace fatalities each and every year. It is imperative that employers eliminate financial or other incentives that encourage workers to text while driving. Employers who require their employees to text while driving–or who organize work so that doing so is a practical necessity even if not a formal requirement – violate the OSH Act.

Our work injury attorneys urge employers to download a sample cell phone policy kit, customize it to your organization’s needs, and let your employees know that you support distraction-free driving. Hang up posters in the office to remind employees that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.” As it stands now, Massachusetts’ state law already bans drivers of all ages from using text message devices behind the wheel. But these laws are not effective without enforcement. Some of the most important enforcement efforts must come from employers. Step up today and help to save lives.
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Historically, railroad workers have faced dangerous conditions when on the job. While changes in technology, advancements in safety warning, improved alarm systems, and more comprehensive regulations have reduced the number of accidents and deaths, railroad workers continue to face significant occupational hazards. For rail workers, the environment can change drastically, depending on the weather, technological malfunctions, or other variables. Workers are required to quickly adapt to these changes and react quickly. Even the most seasoned railroad workers are put at risk.

According to a recent report in the LA Times, The Federal Transit Administration has directed all rail agencies to review their safety practices. This directive is for all public and private rail users due to an increase in the number of accidents and injuries on American railroads. Our workers’ compensation lawyers are dedicated to helping victims of work-related injury protect their rights. We are also committed to raising awareness regarding trends in work-related accident and injury in Massachusetts and nationwide.
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Industrial workers face a number of dangers on the job. While OSHA and state safety departments work to ensure safe conditions, there continue to be serious and fatal industrial site accidents. Earlier this month, a Boston worker was killed in an industrial accident after he was struck by a 12,000-pound steel beam. The tragedy highlights the reality that industrial and immigrant workers face dangerous working conditions and are at risk of injury and death, especially in the event of safety violations.

Workers who are injured on the job and families who have lost a loved one in a work-related accident are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Our Boston workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to helping victims quickly and effectively recover the full compensation they deserve after an accident. We also stay abreast of work-related accident cases in our community and want to keep both employees and employers informed to prevent future injury and wrongful death.
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