Will there soon be an app for preventing workplace injuries?

Dec 16 2016

Over the course of the last decade, we’ve seen the apps on our smartphones become increasingly sophisticated, capable of performing a host of tasks that we would have once thought impossible. What makes this development even more remarkable is that as the technology for smartphone apps has advanced, it has, for the most part, remained very user-friendly. Interestingly enough, a group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are currently working on the development of a complex app that they hope will someday help employers easily reduce the number of repetitive motion injuries among factory workers.  The current method for assessing…

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What if you slip on ice while at work?

Dec 15 2016

If you’ve ever watched a funny YouTube video of people slipping and falling on ice, you probably laughed a lot at the time. But when it happens to you, it’s not all that funny. You may try to take it in stride and go on with the rest of your day, but what if the fall is serious enough to land you in urgent care or the emergency room? And what if it happens at work? Winter in Colorado means dealing with slippery, icy conditions on a regular basis. Most workplaces have excellent snow removal policies, but that doesn’t mean…

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Just how large has the SSA’s disability backlog grown?

Dec 08 2016

Those who have seen both their initial application for disability benefits and their subsequent appeal denied can derive comfort from the fact that there are still several levels of appellate review through which they can seek these much-needed funds. Indeed, the next level of review enables them to request a hearing before an administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration, who will examine the medical records and other evidence beforehand, question claimants and experts at the proceeding, and render a final decision. While this seems like a straightforward process that should result in a relatively small case backlog, agency…

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Attorneys who understand the complex interplay of work comp and personal injury

Nov 30 2016

As we make our way on the roads and highways here in Denver and across the Front Range, we like to imagine that our fellow motorists are practicing safe driving, meaning they are keeping their attention firmly on the road, obeying the posted speed limit and abiding by all traffic laws. While it would be nice if this were the case, the reality is that our fellow motorists are often distracted, speeding or just plain negligent behind the wheel, frequently causing crashes that leave victims with serious injuries. When a person finds themselves involved in an accident caused by another…

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Am I eligible for temporary disability benefits? – IV

Nov 26 2016

As we’ve discussed in a series on ongoing posts, Colorado workers who miss more than three workdays or three shifts are entitled to wage replacement, or, as it is otherwise known, temporary disability benefits under state law. In the preceding posts, we’ve been discussing temporary total disability benefits, which are available to those workers left completely disabled for a relatively short amount of time. In today’s post, we’ll continue this discussion of temporary disability benefits, but shift the focus to what are known as temporary partial disability — or TPD — benefits. What are TPD benefits? A worker is eligible…

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OSHA introduces long overdue updates to walking-working surfaces standards

Nov 23 2016

A few weeks back, our blog spent some time discussing workplace falls, examining why they are so common, what construction workers can do in the unfortunate event they are injured in these types of on-the-job mishaps, and how employers in this industry are required to abide by rules and regulations designed to create a safe work environment. Interestingly enough, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a final rule just last week that will introduce considerable change in the general industry as it relates to fall prevention, bringing it more in line with the construction industry. Specifically, OSHA’s final…

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What ‘wounded warriors’ need to know about securing disability benefits – II

Nov 15 2016

In a previous post, we began exploring how members of our nation’s armed forces who suffer a disabling injury are eligible for benefits through both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Indeed, we discussed how “Wounded Warriors” who suffered their injury or illness while on active duty anytime on or after October 1, 2001 receive expedited processing of their disability claims from the Social Security Administration. We also discussed how service members are also able to receive benefits for a prior disability even if their health has since improved — i.e., for a “closed…

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Workplace falls are all too common

Nov 11 2016

Familiarity breeds complacency. When the work environment is at height — whether on a ladder, a lift or a roof — familiarity can lead to accidents that never should have happened. Workplace accidents aren’t just about forgetting your surroundings, though. They’re caused by dangerous conditions, improper technique (possibly caused by improper training) and faulty equipment or set-up. Prevention is a twofold approach that requires awareness and education, but also protective measures: literal safety nets. Why are falls so common? Falls have been a primary cause of construction deaths for a long time. Why? In its annual list of most common citations, OSHA says fall…

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Report: Workplace injuries and illnesses continued to decline in 2015

Nov 08 2016

One of the points we strive to emphasize on our blog is that work injuries can happen at any time to any worker in any sector. Of course, our purpose in this is not to cause unnecessary alarm among workers, but rather to help them understand that they don’t have to feel afraid if they are injured on the job, as they are far from alone in this regard and, perhaps more significantly, that workers’ compensation benefits can supply a much-needed financial lifeline in these situations. In keeping with this idea, consider the recent release of the 2015 Employer-Reported Workplace…

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Which states have the highest, lowest work comp rates in the nation?

Nov 01 2016

For the last 30 years, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has been releasing a biennial report comparing and contrasting the workers’ compensation rates of each state with the national median rate, which currently stands at $1.84 per $100 of payroll. The most recent edition of this much-anticipated report was released just a few weeks ago with the usual suspects filling the same slots and, of course, some surprises. How is the study structured? The researchers utilize a constant set of risk classifications in order to put each state’s work comp rates on comparable terms. Once this is…

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