Fate of certain OSHA regulations remains uncertain under new administration

Jan 31 2017

Whenever a new administration takes control of the White House, questions inevitably swirl around who will be selected to head certain high-profile agencies and what changes in direction are ahead for the next four years. Indeed, stories about the potential leadership and planned course of action for federal agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency never fail to generate considerable headlines. For the rest of the agencies, however, the public excitement is far less, and nascent administrations have historically made them less of a priority during their first 100 days. Interestingly enough, however, legal experts…

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Court of Appeals Decision on David Alan York v. Industrial Claim Appeals Office of Colorado

Jan 31 2017

On Thursday January 26, 2017, the CO Court of Appeals issued a decision in David Alan York v. Industrial Claim Appeals Office of the State of Colorado wherein they affirmed the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) opinion that maximum medical improvement (MMI) can be found based on the opinions of a 24 month DIME and a DIME physician without a finding of MMI by an Authorized Treating Physician. Learn more about events and news at the Colorado Judicial Branch website.

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Understanding the true scope of construction injuries

Jan 24 2017

Earlier this month, our blog reported that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics had recently released its 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, and how it once again illustrated how workers in certain sectors are at a significantly elevated risk of losing their lives owing to the duties they perform, conditions they work in and tools they use. By way of example, consider the CFOI’s findings concerning the construction industry, which together with the extraction industry, saw 924 fatalities in 2015, marking the single highest level in seven years. Indeed, construction laborers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers were singled out…

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OSHA to initiate rulemaking addressing workplace violence in healthcare

Jan 20 2017

When we envision career fields in which the risk of workplace violence is especially acute, our thoughts naturally gravitate to areas like law enforcement and security-based work. While it’s true that occupations like police officer, prison official or security guard do indeed have high rates of work-related injuries attributable to violent acts by third parties, so too do those who work in the health care sector, particularly nurses. If you have a hard time believing it, consider that data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that in 2014 alone an astounding 52 percent of all reported incidents of…

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Examining statistics on construction accidents

Jan 18 2017

In 2015, there were more than 900 deadly construction accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, even people who are fortunate enough to survive a construction accident may face an uphill battle and a long road to recovery. On job sites in Denver, and all throughout Colorado, construction accident injuries may result in lifelong disabilities, costly medical bills, lost wages and a host of other hardships. Because of the serious and sometimes fatal nature of construction accidents, it is pivotal for workers and employers to understand how these incidents can upend lives focus on ways to prevent them. The Occupational…

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Nurses in Danger: Series Conclusion

Jan 17 2017

It Sounds Too Good To Be True… But Maybe It’s Not Megan appreciated Amy’s advice, but didn’t know if she had enough in her savings account to afford an attorney. Amy chimed in and told her that she worried about that as well, but found that workers’ comp attorneys don’t charge upfront. They are paid a capped percentage of the benefits a client is awarded, and a state agency must sign off on the fee before a lawyer gets paid. So, she told Megan, you’re able to get a lawyer to help you with all of the complicated workers’ comp…

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Is it important for construction workers to wear harnesses?

Jan 13 2017

As a Colorado construction worker, you may think that safety harnesses are a suggestion, not a necessity. Many construction workers do not always utilize safety harnesses. Although you may think larger concerns exist, Occupational Health and Safety says that working without a harness is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration protocol which is violated most often. The issue is important because falls make up 36 percent of worker deaths. There are a few key reasons why construction workers do not always wear safety harnesses. You might claim that harnesses are hot and uncomfortable when carrying all the tools needed to…

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Understanding more about permanent impairment

Jan 11 2017

While the majority of injured workers are typically able to return to their old roles or take new positions with modified duties, there are some workers for whom this is impossible owing to the severity of their bodily trauma. By way of example, consider workers who have lost limbs, suffered traumatic brain injuries or endured spinal trauma. As discouraging as this is, workers in this position can derive some measure of comfort from the fact that they may be found to have a permanent impairment and, by extension, be eligible for regular benefits. Those individuals unable to fully recover from…

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Nurses in Danger: Part Three

Jan 11 2017

It’s been a week since Megan hurt her back moving a large patient at work. She has been in so much pain that she hasn’t been able to work, and she’s starting to worry about what step she should take next. She reaches out to Amy, a friend and fellow nurse who hurt her back three years earlier.  Questions Lead To Concerns – What Should I Be Doing?! When Megan calls Amy, Amy asks her if she’s done a few things: Did you tell your floor manager, supervisor or HR department about your injury? Are you going to the doctor…

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Nurses in Danger: Part Two

Jan 06 2017

When Megan’s back gave out while lifting a large patient, the first thing she thought of once she had the pain under control was “How many other nurses has this happened to?” She knew of at least three nurses on her floor who had suffered a similar injury at one point in their careers. All of her nurse friends knew of someone who had suffered some type of trauma when lifting a large patient or when a patient’s body shifted unexpectedly while being moved. But are nursing injuries, especially those caused by lifting patients, truly as prevalent as they seemed…

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