The dangers of road construction work

Jun 17 2016

Road construction workers face considerable risk of suffering on-the-job injuries. Several factors associated with the road construction industry can increase the risk of injury or death. One well-documented cause of injury comes from crashes on roads with active construction zones. Construction vehicles backing into workers, automobile drivers failing to heed reduced speed signs and other serious negligence cause thousands of injuries every year. Statistics on road construction injuries The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that “639 workers were killed while working at a road construction site” between 2003 and 2007. Almost half of the fatalities occurred due…

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Why trenching and excavation is so dangerous for workers

Jun 15 2016

While it’s easy to think that construction projects are largely confined to the surfaces and skies around us, the reality is that there are just as many projects, if not more, taking place on a subterranean level from the digging of foundations to the laying of sewer pipes. In fact, it’s important to understand that with this type of work comes unique and considerable danger to construction workers, including hazards associated with the process of trenching and excavation. For those unfamiliar with these terms, trenching and excavation is essentially the process by which narrow manmade cuts are made below the…

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What are the work comp requirements for Colorado employers?

Jun 13 2016

As an employee, you understand that if you are injured, you have rights and you have options. Indeed, you probably know that your employer has workers’ compensation insurance and that you may secure payment for medical expenses, partial wage replacement for temporary disability and even permanent impairment benefits for more severe conditions. While this is all incredibly important information to know, what you might be understandably lacking is knowledge of what the law here in Colorado has to say about employer requirements for work comp insurance. In the interests of helping workers better understand their rights under state law, today’s…

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Report reveals how, why Americans are injured on the job

Jun 11 2016

While most of us would prefer to think that work injuries are a relatively rare occurrence, the reality is that they occur with alarming frequency, indiscriminately sidelining workers in every occupation and sector. If you have a hard time believing this, consider that statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that upwards of 4.7 million workers are injured here in the U.S. every year. Breaking these numbers down further, this equates to an astounding 12,900 workers per day and one worker every seven seconds. Given staggering figures like these, questions naturally arise as to the types of injuries workers are…

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Colorado farm workers have access to workers’ compensation — no matter their status

Jun 08 2016

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 167 agricultural workers suffer an injury severe enough to keep them from working every single day. Yet, even with that disheartening statistic, many states do not require farm employers to provide workers’ compensation for migrant workers. Even in states like Colorado that do require workers’ compensation, many workers are afraid to come forward and ask for workers’ compensation after a work injury, some because they are undocumented. Others are afraid they won’t get the money they need to support their families. We need to work together as a society…

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The Work Comp Insurance Company Isn’t On Your Side

Jun 01 2016

They’ll make that very clear to you. Many people think the workers’ compensation process involves simply letting your employer know of your injury, visiting a doctor and then receiving benefits for treatments and lost income. Even though we would be out a job, we truly wish it were that simple. The reality is that insurance companies are businesses that are in the game to make money. Giving every injured worker the full benefits they deserve would mean less money in their pockets. That is why they lowball claims. It is also why they become unresponsive and delay payments, putting the…

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What Happens To My Job If I Have A Workers’ Comp Injury?

May 01 2016

Most people are aware that they are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they get injured on the job in Colorado. However, they have no reason to learn about their specific rights and options until the day a serious work injury occurs. At that point – when you are worst-equipped to deal with them – the tough questions and complications can seem endless. If I am injured and cannot work, what will happen to my job? For clear reasons, many people in this extremely stressful, uncertain situation ask this and related questions such as: Can I be fired just for…

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Colorado Workers’ Compensation FAQ

Apr 01 2016

If you have been injured in an accident at work, or you have developed a condition or disease as a result of your work activities or environment, you probably have many questions. At Alverson + O’Brien, we have answers. We are here to provide you with advice and guidance aimed at getting you the maximum compensation available to you under the law. Following are some of the most frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation in Colorado: Do I Have a Valid Workers’ Compensation Claim? Any injury that clearly occurred on the job qualifies the employee for workers’ compensation benefits. However,…

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Nurses risk their health to protect us

Mar 30 2016

“To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” ~ Rawsi Williams, RN When people think of dangerous jobs, they often recall images of construction workers falling off scaffolding or police officers shot in the line of duty. Very few people understand the dangers nurses face. Nurses are the heart of our hospitals, their role the cornerstone of our care. They risk their health every day in order to protect us. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), more…

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Colorado oil field deaths related to toxic vapor exposure

Mar 18 2016

America’s oil boom has created high-paying jobs for workers willing to put in long hours and a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, however, oil field jobs also come with serious dangers – both known and unknown. Too many oil workers have suffered serious injuries or lost their lives because oil companies put profits ahead of safety. Over the past five years, nine oil workers – including three in Colorado – have died while “tank gauging,” or manually opening storage tanks to gauge the level of crude oil inside. When these tanks are opened from above, they often emit high levels…

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