Can You Be Fired While on Workers’ Comp in Colorado?

May 08 2020

What Rights Do I Have Under Colorado Workers’ Compensation Law? Filing a Workers’ Compensation claim in Colorado often causes anxiety for an injured worker. Although your employer can’t fire you for filing the claim, you may still wonder if he or she will find another excuse to let you go. At Alverson + O’Brien, we’re here to help you navigate your claim and return to your position once doctors medically clear you to resume activity. What Are Valid Reasons for Firing an Employee? Even if you are on Workers’ Compensation, your employer can still fire you if they present valid…

Am I eligible for workers’ compensation after being exposed to COVID-19 at work?

Apr 27 2020

If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 at work you may be entitled to coverage under Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. CO law provides benefits including wage replacement for time missed from work, medical treatment at the cost of the Insurance Carrier and possible compensation for permanent damage caused by the disease. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 while at work follow these steps: NOTICE TO YOUR EMPLOYER: Inform your supervisor immediately and explain that you believe the exposure occurred at work. Your employer should you provide you with a Designated List of Providers designating at least 4 separate…

Preparing safely for spring festivals in the parks

Mar 26 2019

Now that spring is finally here, many families in Denver will start going outside more often and are starting to look up upcoming recreational activities. The Mile High City has plenty of outdoor events and celebrations in the next few months such as the Rodeo All-Star Weekend, the Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival and the annual Cinco de Mayo Festival. With so many residents starting to get spring fever, many festival workers, volunteers and employees of Denver’s Parks and Recreation Board have a lot to prepare for. While they get so preoccupied with ensuring that all attendees have…

An about-face in OSHA reporting

Mar 25 2019

Will a 180 turn by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – admittedly under a new presidency – make it more difficult to track workplace dangers? OSHA doesn’t think so. Citing privacy risks, the high-profile government entity overturned a 2016 rule established during the Obama administration. Businesses with 250 or more employees will no longer be required to electronically submit annual reports on every work-related employee injury or illness. OSHA will still require those employers to document all data on the forms and preserve the paperwork should it be needed by their inspectors. Businesses must still provide summaries of…

Seeing workplace dangers hiding in plain sight

Mar 19 2019

The National Safety Council wants employees to employ a more artistic approach when it comes to potential hazards. While no one is drawing Tippy or painting the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, they are being tasked to look at their work surroundings in an entirely new way. Welcome to “visual literacy,” an “art of seeing art” concept introduced by The Toledo Museum of Art to the occupational safety field in 2015. While an art museum and a manufacturing plant seem worlds apart, common ground has been established. Instead of words, visual literacy helps gain understanding through images. A high-profile example would be…

The Growing Problem Of Violence Against Healthcare Workers

Mar 13 2019

Yelled at. Spat on. Hit. Pushed. For far too many healthcare professionals, these acts of aggression are sadly just another day at the office. Maintaining safety in the workplace requires proactive steps. Yet, for healthcare workers, nothing can account for the violently reactive nature of their patients. Focusing on the well-being of those they care for often puts these dedicated professionals in the line of fire. From 2002 to 2013, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed that serious workplace violence in the healthcare industry requiring time off was four times as common as private industry. The U.S. Bureau of…

Addressing the physical risks that come with firefighting

Mar 08 2019

Few jobs present more dangers than what firefighters face on a day to day basis. The stress goes beyond the frustration that comes with any job. Their duties are perilous and involve everything from climbing ladders and pulling hoses to entering burning homes and buildings. The risks and challenges involved in their day-to-day responsibilities take a physical toll. Firefighting is not just a job. Anyone who takes on the responsibilities will likely claim that they are called to the profession. For them, it’s a lifestyle. Firefighters are on call 24 hours a day and must drop whatever they are doing…

Former NFL player killed over a parking dispute

Feb 21 2019

A former NFL player was killed over a parking dispute at Eaglecrest High School in Aurora, Colorado. According to CNN, Anthony “T.J.” Cunningham was shot by his neighbor over a parking dispute on Feb. 17, and he died at the hospital the next day. Cunningham played for the University of Colorado and then was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 1996. He had been working as an assistant principal at Hinkley High School, which is also in Aurora. The neighbors were texting about a parking dispute Cunningham texted his neighbor, Marcus Johnson, hours before the shooting. The two were exchanging…

How common is “trucker tendonitis?”

Jan 14 2019

Truck drivers deal with many challenges on the roads, from drunk drivers to long hauls with little rest. But the most significant danger most drivers face lurks below the stirring wheel through Achilles tendonitis. Driving for extended periods wears down on the body, including your ability to heal. The more your drive, the worse the problem will get. Eventually, it may affect your ability to work, drive or even walk. What is tendonitis? According to the Mayo Clinic, Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — a thick cord that attaches a muscle to a bone. Frequently, it causes…

Filing A Social Security Disability Claim

Jan 01 2019

Many people think that filing a Social Security Disability (SSD) claim in Denver is a simple process. However, initial claims are routinely denied. That is why it is important to have legal counsel on your side to help guide you through this process and to put you in the best position for success when it comes to getting the benefits that you deserve. At the law firm of Alverson + O’Brien, our Denver lawyers are committed to providing knowledgeable advice and guidance to disabled individuals who are no longer able to work as they once did. We can help navigate…

Blog