Working a physical job, such as one in a factory or manufacturing facility, requires you to be on your feet for your whole shift. You spend a significant portion of your time lifting heavy objects, operating machinery and standing in place in order to fulfill your job responsibilities. It's a tiring job, and also leaves you prone to back injuries.
New OSHA program may offer protection to health care workers
Colorado residents who work in health care facilities may be interested to learn that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is tightening its regulations that protect workers in this industry. Furthermore, the agency's definition of health care facilities for this purpose is a broad one and includes assisted living facilities, substance abuse centers and continuing care retirement centers.
Respiratory safety for health care workers
Many Colorado health care workers know that the rate of injuries and illnesses that occur during work in the health care industry are almost twice as high as the rate of illnesses and injuries in private industry overall. In 2013, for example, there were approximately 58,000 injuries and illnesses recorded by U.S. hospitals; this amounted to 6.4 injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time health care employees. To reduce injuries and illnesses, OSHA updated instructions for preventing hazards.
Workers' compensation may be denied after time has passed
Colorado workers who have been injured on the job should make sure that they file their workers' compensation claims in a timely fashion to reduce the chance that those claims will be denied. A former maintenance man for McDonald's is attempting to claim workers' compensation benefits for his rotator cuff injury that had been diagnosed in 2006, but McDonald's is arguing that the injury is related to an earlier one from 2001 that the man did not file a claim for. However, the man claims that the rotator cuff injury is unrelated to the earlier diagnosis of tendonitis. A New Jersey appellate court referred the case back to workers' compensation court to hear expert medical testimony regarding the injury.
Reviewing the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
Employees in Colorado can take a number of interesting facts away from the 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in September 2015. There were 4,679 fatal injuries in the workplace during 2014, increasing by 2 percent from the previous year. The rate of fatal workplace injuries increased by 13 percent among women, but they only accounted for 8 percent of the total recorded in 2014.
EMS personnel who work long shifts are at greater injury risk
Emergency medical services workers in Colorado and around the country have a significantly heightened risk of injury when they work long shifts. EMS work can be difficult, requiring people to repeatedly lift others and also to make important decisions while they are providing care for the injured.
Importance of hand protection for oil and gas workers
Many workers in Colorado are employed in the oil and gas industry. Those who are and who handle equipment need good hand protection to help prevent common injuries. The costs associated with a hand injury may be quite large, so employers may want to make sure their employees are provided with hand protection and that they wear them at all times.
Amputations National Emphasis Program updated by OSHA
Many Colorado workers as well as their employers need to be aware of the updates the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued revising their policies and procedures for the implementation of the amputations National Emphasis Program. The updates include a list of businesses that have the highest number of amputations and thus that may be targeted for inspection.
Temp workers' injuries double as number of workers grows
The threat of health hazards and injuries are common at many workplaces in Colorado, and they are usually taken seriously enough by employers to warrant extensive safety training and protective gear. According to research recently released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, employers may not be exercising the same level of precautions when it comes to temp workers.
Amtrak sued by conductor injured in derailment
Colorado workers may have read that a train conductor who was seriously injured in the Philadelphia Amtrak train derailment has filed a lawsuit against his employer. Reportedly, the 33-year-old conductor was taking a restroom break at the time of the fatal train accident.