North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog

Some try to cure it with a jolt of java or a burst of caffeine from a saccharine energy drink.

Others simply suffer through it, watching through heavy eyelids as the hours tick by.
Sleepiness at work is something we've all no doubt experienced at some point in our lives.

Research shows, though, that just as drowsy driving puts you at higher risk for a crash (more than 100,000 accidents annually are attributed to driver fatigue), working while tired makes you - and those around you - more prone to workplace injuries and even fatalities.

Our Asheville workers compensation attorneys know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some employees are more likely to suffer sleep deprivation. Those include night shift workers, on-call workers and those who are required to work long or overtime hours to get the job done.

Add family responsibilities to that mix, and daily exhaustion becomes a reality.

Productivity suffers, with the CDC reporting workers who take on a 60-hour work are 20 percent less effective than those who work the standard, 40-hour week.

But such long hours can also have calamitous results for people in a wide range of industries - everyone from doctors to truck drivers.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon.

In a struggling economy, overtime is not only increasing, it's becoming less optional.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nearly 15 million Americans work full time on evening shift, night shift, rotating shift or some other irregular schedule.

Further, U.S. employees are some of the most over-worked in the world. A 2003 report from the International Labor Office shows that work hours in the U.S. far exceeded those in Japan (on average, 70 hours more a year) and western Europe.

Some industries, like transportation, do have limits on how many hours a person can safely work before an employer is required to give them time off to rest. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently revised its guidelines for the hours truckers can work, limiting them to 70-hour work weeks (down from 82 hours) and requiring a 30-minute break every eight hours.

A recent study of truck drivers found that the severity of accidents could be diminished by making changes to the daily and weekly work week and rest patterns. When drivers were given two consecutive nights of sleep, accidents dropped sharply by 23 percent, and the average cost of each accident fell by nearly 66 percent.

While it's not always possible to request regular work hours, the National Sleep Foundation offers a number of tips you can take to improve your sleep habits and reduce your risk of workplace accidents in Asheville and elsewhere.

These include:

-When possible, maintain a regular sleep and wake time schedule, even on the weekends.

-Get into a regular, relaxing bedtime routine, like taking a long soak in the tub or listening to relaxing music.

-Make sure that were you sleep is dark, comfortable and cool.

-Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows.

-Finish eating at least 2 to 3 hours prior to your bedtime.

-Exercise regularly, and wrap up your workout at least a few hours prior to bedtime.

-Avoid caffeine or soft drinks right before bedtime, as that will likely keep you wired and awake.

-Try to avoid alcohol prior to bedtime, as it is likely to disrupt your sleep.

Continue reading "Lack of Sleep Results in Workplace Injuries in Asheville, Nation " »

Work-related fall accidents in North Carolina and elsewhere are the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities. These types of accidents are most common in the construction industry. These incidents are not isolated to the construction industry though. They're common among those who work in the healthcare and the retail industry as well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some safety tips to help reduce the risks of these types of work accidents. Our Greensboro workers compensation attorneys understand that employees of all kinds are at risk for potentially fatal fall accidents on the job. We're asking that you review the following information to help to prevent the risk of getting hurt at work in the New Year. According to preliminary statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 635 fatal fall accidents in the country in 2010. These types of accidents accounted for almost 15 percent of all fatal work-related accidents.

Of the 2010 Fatal Work-Related Fall Accidents:

-More than 90 happened when a worker fell on the same level.

-Nearly 540 were accidents involving workers who fell to a lower level.

-About 130 of these accidents happened as workers fell from a ladder.

-More than 100 occurred as employees fell from a roof.

-More than 50 happened as workers fell from scaffolds.

As stated before, most fatal fall accidents are endured by construction industry workers. However, the most common injury-resulting falls occur among those working in the healthcare, wholesale and retail positions.

Common causes of work-related falls:

-Improper fall protections.

-Slippery walkways.

-Unstable walking and working surfaces.

-Failure to remove work debris.

-Cluttered walkways.

-Unprotected holes in walls and floors.

Yes, these types of accidents are common. Unfortunately they can be painful and costly, too. Injuries resulting from fall-related accidents can cost billions in medical bills and in workers' compensation. Officials estimate these costs amount to $70 billion annually in the U.S. To help reduce these accidents, federal regulations have been established to make sure employers are taking all of the proper safety precautions. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has created a Quick Card to help employers and employers keep work sites safe from fall accidents.

Tips to Prevent Fall Accidents:

-Be sure to guard every floor hole. Use a railing and a toeboard or a floor-hole cover.

-Make sure that every open-sided platform, runway or floor that is at least 4-feet off the ground has both a guardrail and a toeboard.

-Regardless of height, if a worker can slip and fall into a dangerous machine or onto a dangerous piece of equipment, make sure that there are guardrails and toeboards available.

-Consider using other forms of fall protection, including stair railings, safety nets, safety harnessed and handrails, too.

-Keep all floors and work areas in a clean and sanitary condition.

-Provide personal protective equipment to employees at no cost to them.

-Make sure that employees are properly trained.

Continue reading "Helping to Reduce Risks of Work-Related Fall Accidents in Greensboro in 2012" »

Our Asheville work accident attorneys recently posted on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Blog about the dangers of cold weather and car accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning of the risks winter weather poses when it comes to car accidents. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of on-the-job injuries in Ashville and elsewhere. And, while the Carolinas may benefit from milder winters than those suffered in much of the rest of the country, drivers in warm-weather states may be at higher risks due to being less experienced and less prepared for cold weather.

We have already written about avoiding winter weather car accidents in Asheville by properly maintaining your vehicle. But what you do behind the wheel is also critical to maintaining your safety and the safety of those around you.

-Practice winter driving in a parking lot or remote area.

-Drive slowly.

-Brake anti-lock vehicles firmly. Those without anti-lock brakes should be stopped by gently pumping the brakes.

-Stay calm in a skid. Ease off the gas while steering in the direction you want the front end to go. Don't apply either the gas or the brake until you have regained control. Steering into the skid will bring your car back in line.

-Plan your route of travel. Know about potential delays, road conditions and accidents before venturing out.

-Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

-Always have a cell phone with a good charge. And keep your gas tank as close to full as possible.

-Beware carbon monoxide poisoning if stuck in the snow. Be sure the tailpipe is clear when running a vehicle to stay warm and always crack a window.

-Avoid driving in hazardous conditions whenever possible.

-Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Broom, shovel, ice scraper, abrasive material for traction, flashlight, flares, jumper cables, blankets, water, food and medicine are a few of the items that should be part of your travel kit.

-Don't leave an abandoned vehicle unless safe to do so. Don't wander off. Beware of traffic and the risk of secondary accidents.

-Don't overexert yourself.

-Always wear your seat belt and require everyone in your vehicle to buckle up.

-Don't drive distracted.

-Dress appropriately -- dress as though you may be stranded or out longer than you anticipate.

-Never leave a child unattended around a vehicle.

Safety is no accident. It usually takes careful planning. The Carolinas are not known for brutal winters. But at the same time employees certainly face increased risk during inclement weather. Make sure your vehicle has been serviced and is ready for winter. Plan your route. Know the risks. Drive carefully. And be prepared. Employers and employees alike can take steps to reduce their risks of being involved in a car accident while on the job. That is true all year long. But winter brings with it special risks. Take it seriously and plan accordingly.

Continue reading "Winter Weather Car Accidents a Work-Injury Risk in Asheville " »

Transportation accidents are the leading cause of work accidents in Winston-Salem and throughout the Carolinas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,766 employees were killed in transportation accidents while on the job in 2010. A total of 4,547 workers died on the job that year.

Our Winston-Salem workers' compensation attorneys know 4 in 10 fatal work injuries occur as a result of some form of transportation accident -- the vast majority of which are plain ol' car accidents.

Distracted driving has become an epidemic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 3,000 to 5,000 motorists a year are being killed in accidents involving a distracted driver. At the start of 2012, we join the National Safety Council in urging employers to establish a cell phone policy in an effort to reduce the risk of serious or fatal distracted driving accidents that occur on the job.

The federal government has already forbid federal employees from texting while driving and placed other restrictions on cell phone use behind the wheel. And the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended all cell phone use be prohibited by drivers, except in cases of emergency.

Employers can do their part to make the roads safer, and to reduce their liability, by creating cell-phone policies for drivers on the job. In a 2009 survey, the NSC found the top three barriers to establishing a cell phone policy in the workplace were:

-Lack of employee support
-Competing job priorities
-Lack of management commitment

Meanwhile, opinion polls conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Foundation have found that 80 percent of drivers found cell phone use by drivers is a "very serious threat" to their safety. Even though those same drivers admitted to distracted driving behavior.

And Nationwide Insurance reports that 80 percent of drivers support laws restricting cell phone use behind the wheel. Support for banning text messaging by drivers is nearly universal.

Employers who are considering establishing a cell phone policy should do so as part of a coordinated safety effort.

-Don't surprise employees with a new policy.

-Hold a series of meetings and request feedback as part of policy implementation.

-As employees to offer solutions and discuss potential challenges.

-Policy implementation must have support of top management.

-Brainstorm ways to maintain productivity. Utilize teams of cross-department employees in designing and implementing your plan.

-Involve employees in the monitoring and compliance process.

-Be sure to communicate positive results.

Of course distraction is just one common cause of accidents while driving on the job. Poorly maintained vehicles, defective roads or risks posed by other drivers on the road may also lead to a serious or fatal accident. And please be sure to check back for advice on driving on wet, slippery or icy roads this winter.

Resolve to stay safe behind the wheel in 2012, whether on the job or on your own time. By following time-tested safety advice, you can do your part to avoid an accident. The life you safe, may well be your own.

Continue reading "Carolina Car Accidents a Primary Cause of On-the-Job Injuries; Don't Drive Distracted in 2012!" »

You may remember the tragic story of the college student who was fatally injured at a college football practice last year while filming the team's practice. The student was employed by the University of Notre Dame but was not properly trained about how to operate the scissor lift, which contributed to the fall accident that took the young man's life.

Asheville workers' compensation attorneys see so many red flags associated with this particular work accident. Young workers must be properly trained when they are required to operate dangerous equipment, especially if weather or other factors can cause a severe or fatal injury to occur.

Scissor lifts are large pieces of equipment powered by hydraulics which contain a platform that is raised and lowered by a scissor motion below its base. Without proper training of safety precautions, scissor lift-related accidents in Charlotte, or elsewhere are quite common, especially when performing job responsibilities in an outside environment. The college student raised the lift upwards of 39 feet into the air during a practice that entailed wind gusts of over 50 mph. The lift was blown over and killed the young man.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a hazard alert to organizations following this incident. Employers and young workers should be familiar with the following hazards related to using a scissor lift if you are required to use equipment to complete your job responsibilities:

-High winds or inclement weather conditions can cause the lift to fall over.

-The lift can fall over when it is positioned on uneven ground or in a particularly soft area due to excessive amounts of rain.

-Weighted objects on the platform can cause the lift to fall over.

-A worker may fall off the platform if no personal protective equipment or guard rails are being used.

Not only are workers at risk of fall accidents from a raised scissor lift, they can also be subject to electrocution hazards. A worker that comes into contact with electrical lines while standing on the platform is at severe risk of being electrocuted.

Employers have a responsibility to take the necessary precautions to keep workers of any age safe while performing job duties. The following initiatives must be taken to prevent scissor lift-related work accidents:

-Inspect the equipment before it is about to be used by a worker.

-Stay away from parking the apparatus near slopes, holes or ground obstructions.

-Park the scissor lift at least 10 away from electrical lines upon its full extension.

-If rain, sleet, snow or wind is expected, prohibit workers from using a scissor lift.

-Make sure the lift is limited two one or two people using minimal equipment.

-Provide workers with fall protection such as a harness to prevent them from falling off the platform to ground level. Always make sure guard rails are in place before using the equipment.

-The scissor lift must be tested, inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

-Train all employees on how to properly use the equipment. Never permit an untrained employee to use the scissor fork in a raised position.

Continue reading "North Carolina Scissor Lift Accidents Common at Work When Employees in Charlotte, Asheville are Not Trained Properly " »

Workers who service single-piece and multiple-piece rim wheels for large tires are probably more at risk of a tire servicing-related work accident in Greensboro or elsewhere than you may realize. There are enough incidents nationwide to make the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recognize the issue, making an announcement of their efforts to update materials and revise tire charts to help keep workers safe as they service large tires.

Safety News Alert recently gave four examples of workers killed or injured while handling large vehicle tires. In the first example, one death and four injuries occurred at a metal factory in Kentucky when a tire exploded while employees were trying to fuse a rim to a large tire. In a second example, a worker from New Jersey was killed while trying to put air in a re-treaded tractor-trailer tire. The tire exploded while he was trying to check the air pressure causing the worker to die from multiple blunt trauma injuries. A Maine employee was seriously injured in the third example. The Bath Iron Works employee was changing a tire at a shipyard when it exploded and caused severe facial trauma. The final example provides a video on You Tube of a worker being killed by the blast of a tire exploding right underneath him.

Asheville workers' compensation lawyers understand that large tires on tractor-trailers, machinery used in shipyards and large farm equipment are subject to wear and tear and need replacing. We hope that employers take note of the new materials presented by OSHA and train their employees accordingly.

OSHA reports there are roughly 322,000 workers who service large vehicle tires at over 100,000 job sites nationwide. Employees can be injured when pressurized air is suddenly released by the bead breaking or slipping in single-piece rim wheel accidents. The pressurized air has enough force to throw an employee across the room or cause the rim wheel to propel at a trajectory that could be dangerous for anyone standing nearby. Actions during a multiple-piece rim wheel accident cause the wheel components to separate and release, also with violent force enough to cause blunt trauma injuries to a worker.

Employers must train employees to prevent injury by using the following safe operating procedures on single-piece rim wheels:

-The valve core must be removed and the tire completely deflated before demounting.

-The tire must be mounted and demounted only from the narrow ledge side of the wheel.

-Use caution to prevent damaging the beads while mounting and dismounting.

-Unless otherwise instructed by the wheel manufacturer, the bead and wheel mating surfaces must be greased with a nonflammable rubber lubricant before assembling the rim wheel.

-A restraining device should be used to inflate the tire when it is positioned behind a barrier or is bolted on the vehicle with tightened lug nuts.

-Heat should never be applied to a single-piece wheel.

-When a tire is being inflated, all workers should steer clear of the trajectory.

-Never attempt to weld, rework or braze a cracked, bent, broken or otherwise defective wheel.

Employers and workers should visit the website for more information about OSHA's Revised Tire Charts.

Continue reading "Workers Subject to Severe Injuries Caused by Explosions at Tire-Servicing Jobs in Asheville, Elsewhere" »

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent nationwide, the lowest it has been in roughly 2.5 years. Charlotte workers' compensation lawyers know that the hiring of seasonal workers in November probably had a lot to do with the economic improvement, but it could be a small sign that things are looking up for the American public overall.

An economic recovery can lead to workers changing jobs or employers hiring new employees so it is important to remember training and preventative safety measures to reduce the number of work accidents in Greensboro, Asheville, Winston-Salem or elsewhere in the state. It is up to the employer or business owner to make sure each employee, seasonal or otherwise, is treated fairly and kept safe while performing their job duties.

We recently posted on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog that Black Friday sales events can be a danger to untrained employees. Seasonal and full-time workers are at considerable risk of a trampling or other work-related injury while working security, parking attendant jobs or sales registers at overcrowded sales events.

The U.S. Department of Labor continues to be concerned about the number of fatal work injuries occurring on the clock. In 2010, there were more than 4,500 fatal occupational injuries nationwide. North Carolina reported 134 worker deaths, an increase from the previous year.

Incidents related to fire and explosions at work were increased significantly in the number of deaths reported from 113 in 2009 to 187 last year. Fires and explosions can occur in just about any work environment when combustible dust ignites or safety precautions are not taken to prevent electrical fires.

Homicidal incidents are another type of fatal work injury that most industries should be concerned with as there were over 500 cases reported in 2010. Female workers reported 13 percent more homicidal incidents in 2010 when compared to reported incidents in 2009. Healthcare workers, retail workers, convenience store workers and police officers are a few of the workers that face considerable danger and may experience a fatal homicidal incident at work if they go unprotected by a business owner or employment agency.

Transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for North Carolina workers in 2010. There were a total of 43 work fatalities related to transportation incidents in North Carolina and 1,766 deaths nationwide. Sadly, 40 percent of fatal work injuries nationwide in 2010 were related to transportation incidents.

Employees hired on a short-term or long-term basis must be formally trained to reduce the number of fatal incidents related to fires and explosions, transportation, homicides or other work-related tragedies. Employers who fail to train workers can and should be held accountable for their negligence.

Continue reading "Untrained Seasonal Employees at Risk of Work Injuries in Charlotte, Elsewhere " »

We posted recently on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog that firefighters are at a heightened risk of transportation accidents, especially when responding to emergency calls. Our Statesville workers' compensation lawyers know that there are many other concerns that Fire Departments need to contend with in order to keep work crews safe.

One serious hazard that firefighters need to be concerned with is exposure to asbestos during a North Carolina fire rescue as was recently reported by WCTI 12.

A local Fire Department is being investigated by the North Carolina Department of Labor for allegedly putting its workers at risk of asbestos exposure while preparing a house for a training session. The chief disputes the claim as the firefighters only removed carpeting from the house. No citations have been issued but the investigation is ongoing.

We typically associate asbestos hazards with the construction industry. But the truth is many types of workers can be exposed when an employer doesn't take preventative measures or offer protective equipment to reduce the risk. Carpenters, utility workers, electricians, pipe fitters or plumbers, steel mill workers and mechanics are some of the jobs that require protective equipment to reduce the chance of exposure to the deadly diseases that can be contracted from asbestos.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines asbestos as a mineral fiber that when taken in at high levels can lead to health problems such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer. Asbestos can be found in older products such as floor tiles, steam pipes, furnace ducts, door gaskets, cement sheet, or automobile brake pads and linings.

Environmental Working Group reports that almost 30 Americans die daily on average from asbestos-related diseases and men over the age of 50 are most at risk. On average, asbestos-related diseases kill almost 10,000 people annually who have contracted mesothelioma (2509), asbestosis (1,398), lung cancer (4,800) and gastro-intestinal cancer (1,200).

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration classifies asbestos hazards into four categories. Class I involves the removal of thermal insulation and troweled or sprayed-on surfacing asbestos. Class II includes any other type of non-thermal asbestos-containing materials which need removed. Class III concentrates on maintenance and repair operations where asbestos is believed to have been disturbed. Class IV involves custodial procedures where employees may be exposed from clean-up of asbestos-related materials or debris.

Employers have a responsibility to limit employee exposure to asbestos. Over an averaged 8-hour work shift, an employee's exposure should not go over .1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air. For exposures lasting 30 minutes, an employee should not exceed 1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air. Employers are forbidden to rotate employees in order to comply with allowable exposure limits.

Employers are required to create regulated areas which are clearly marked with warning signs where employees working with asbestos can be protected. No visitors or untrained personnel without protective equipment are permitted in the controlled zone area. No eating, drinking or smoking should take place in this area.

Employees aren't usually aware of the asbestos-related hazards associated with performing certain job tasks. If you feel you are at risk or have concerns about exposure, feel free to ask questions or additional job training. It is your right to be protected while you work on the job.

Continue reading "Asbestos Exposure a Potential Danger for Statesville Firefighters " »

In a previous post on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Blog we reported that social service and healthcare workers were injured more than construction or manufacturing workers last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2010 Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report.

Charlotte workers' compensation attorneys are trying to understand why the incidence rate increased by 6 percent in the healthcare industry last year when it seems as though jobs in the industry are the first to be cut by state officials. Perhaps it is because employees are being required to work longer hours, perform more job duties, and take on more taxing responsibilities.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration intends to respond by launching a new National Emphasis Program. The initiative will provide more inspections of nursing home and residential care facilities with regard to the many hazards workers face in these types of work environments. Handling or lifting residents, workplace violence, exposure to infectious diseases or blood-borne pathogens, and trips and falls are common causes of injuries for nurses or healthcare workers in long-term or residential care facilities.

In a recent statement, Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Dr. David Michaels, expressed concern for the increase in reported healthcare worker injuries and illnesses

"It is unacceptable that the workers who have dedicated their lives to caring for our loved ones when they are sick are the very same workers who face the highest risk of work-related injury and illness," Michaels said.

With more than 12 million workers employed in health care, it is the second fastest growing sector in the U.S. Last year there were 2.5 times more healthcare work injury incidences than all private and public sector workers -- 283 cases per 10,000 full-time employees compared to 118, respectively. The rate of incidence for nursing aides, attendants and orderlies increased by 7 percent last year, or 489 cases per 10,000 employees. Another reason healthcare work injuries in Asheville and statewide occur may be because females account for 80 percent of the work force. Musculoskeletal disorder cases rose 10 percent nationwide for attendants, aides and orderlies due to the tremendous strain caused by lifting and moving patients around. With so many females performing these types of tasks, the increased incidence rate seems understandable.

Nursing Assistant Education offers the following back-injury preventable tips to healthcare workers:

-Don't be afraid to ask a co-worker for help if you need help lifting a patient.

-Communicate with the patient what you will be doing so that he or she can assist with movement. Even the slightest assistance with movement can help take strain off the lower back.

-Keep your body close to the patients rather than bending over to reach for them before you lift.

-Use your legs rather than bend your upper body. Keep your back perpendicular to the floor.

-If a mechanical lifting device is available, use it.

-Place your feet at least shoulder width apart for support while using the long and strong muscles in your legs for strength.

-Move patients smoothly by making sure you have a firm hold or grip on them before you start your motion.

Continue reading "OSHA to Improve Workers' Safety and Health at Asheville Nursing Homes, Nationwide" »

Our Statesville workers' compensation attorneys want to remind young workers in the restaurant industry to make sure your employer is providing proper training and a safe work environment for you and your co-workers. The restaurant industry is one of the largest part-time and full-time employment sectors but it doesn't fall short from certain hazards like slips and falls, burns, cuts, exposure to hazardous chemicals and electrical hazards.

Many restaurants and food establishments hire young workers for serving, cooking, dishwashing and other responsibilities. These teens need to be properly trained on what to do since, for most, it is their first job outside of the home.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration recently announced a partnership with Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) to help address workplace safety issues in the restaurant industry, specifically focusing on burn hazards, fall accidents, and cut or laceration dangers.

More than 11 million people in the United States are employed in restaurants, bars or other eating establishments. Some of these workers, almost 30 percent, are teenagers. Young workers aren't always familiar with the ins and outs of work safety so training is vital in keeping work injuries to a minimum. We posted about required rules for teen employment last month on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog where we also noted that roughly 50 teens die annually from occupational injuries in Charlotte and throughout the country.

ROC-United is a national organization that helps restaurant workers to improve work conditions and coordinate initiatives for worker safety. In forming a partnership with OSHA, the goal is to provide fact sheets and a safety and health booklet explaining dangerous exposures to cuts, burns and other restaurant-related injuries. In addition, the Alliance hopes to present case studies to workers and employers about lessons learned in this industry, and offer training tips that can help eliminate dangerous hazards.

OSHA has created an eTool for youth worker safety in the restaurant industry. Hazards can occur in all aspects of the industry including serving, clean-up, drive-thru windows, cooking, preparing food and food delivery.

The following are some of the hazards that young workers are exposed to while performing duties in the restaurant industry:

-Serving: strains from lifting or balancing, cuts from sharp knives or broken glass, burns from serving hot plates, verbal abuse or violence from customers.

-Clean-up: electrocution while mopping a wet floor near an improperly wired outlet, exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals, trip accidents while trying to carry dishes or heavy trays.

-Cooking: eye injuries caused by oil splashing from a deep fryer, pains from standing on feet for long periods of time or exposure to open flames and burn injuries from catching on fire.

Young workers who take the initiative of asking questions and getting trained properly can reduce the risk of suffering a serious and possible life-changing injury.

Continue reading "Young Workers in Restaurant Industry Require Training to Help Avoid Work Injuries in Statesville, Elsewhere" »

A recent fire truck accident in North Carolina is a prime example of how firefighters and police officers not only put their lives on the line while performing their duties, but are also at risk of transportation accidents causing injury on the way to or from a rescue or pursuit.

Firehouse.com reports that two volunteer firefighters were injured in an accident while returning from a call in Gaston County. A motorist driving a silver pickup truck ran a red light and crashed into the fire truck. Local authorities reported they were taken to a hospital.

Our Charlotte Workers' Compensation attorneys know that workers who respond to emergency situations are at risk of an injury or death because the situation is dire and requires a fast-paced response. When rescue workers, law enforcement officials and first responders are responding to an emergency call, flashing lights and emergency sirens aren't always enough to keep them from being involved in an accident.

We recently posted on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog that transportation incidents were a common cause of death for workers in the U.S. in 2009. North Carolina reported 51 occupational deaths related to transportation in 2009.

The National Fire Protection Association reported 11 firefighters were killed nationwide in 2010 in vehicle-related accidents. In addition, there were four deaths caused by a firefighter being struck and killed by a passing vehicle. Some of the incidents occurred in personal vehicles while responding to a call but others involved sirens and flashing lights on emergency vehicles.

A fire truck driver has a tremendous amount of responsibility in getting a team of firefighters to the rescue site in a safe and timely manner. Fire departments have a responsibility to train employees how to drive 70,000 pound rigs in emergency situations and sometimes in adverse conditions to arrive safely at a rescue mission. According to Fire Rescue 1, there are three types of fire rescue drivers.

The first is a driver who takes every necessary precaution to make sure workers and equipment get to the rescue site safely, this includes waiting for everyone to fasten their seat belts. These drivers are knowledgeable and skilled and go about their driving in a calm and professional manner.

The second type of fire truck driver gets into a tunnel vision while sometimes putting the safety of his or her riders at risk of an accident. They get caught up in the moment in trying to get to the scene as quickly as possible.

The last type of driver thinks they are the ultimate driver who can handle any driving situation with ease, including speeding to the scene, dodging motorists who don't move over, or who don't consider weather conditions. Not only are crew members at risk but motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists also are at risk of an accident.

Ensuring all firefighters have proper knowledge of how to drive an over-sized vehicle and holding them to a high standard of safety can keep crew members injury free while en route to the scene of a fire.

Continue reading "Charlotte Firefighters at Risk of Accident, Injury While Responding to 911 Calls" »

Our Gastonia workers' compensation lawyers recently published a blog about the key findings of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2010 workplace illness and injury report.

What we found so interesting in these findings was the fact that healthcare and social service workers were injured more than workers in construction and manufacturing. We touch on this subject briefly on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Blog regarding assaults in the workplace.

It is hard to believe that working in a nursing home can cause more injuries than working at a construction site but 2010 labor statistics provide data to support the notion. Think about the daily lifting and moving that needs to be done for patients, which includes getting them in and out of bed, lifting them into wheelchairs, assisting them with bathing and using the bathroom. It can be back breaking work. Exposure to infectious agents and body fluids is also a risk that healthcare personnel face regularly.

According to BLS, the residential care and nursing subsector employs over 3 million workers nationwide. In the 2010 illness and injury report, nursing home workers were injured at a rate of 8.6/100 full-time workers. This amount is two times the occurrence rate of all private sector employees.

By comparison coal miners get injured at a rate of 5.6, building construction workers at 3.5 and workers in tire manufacturing at 4.8.

Nursing care facility workers that require time off from work, a job transfer or limited duty occurs at a rate of 5.6/100 full-time workers. The three previously mentioned areas coal mining, tire manufacturing and building construction had rates of 3.7, 1.7 and 3.3 respectively.

It is interesting that health care and social assistance and manufacturing have the same time off from work, job transfer or limited duty rate of 2.4/100 full-time workers. The construction sector as a whole has a rate of 2.1/100 full-time workers. Yet inspections in the health care and social assistance sector are few and far between. About 17.1 million people work in manufacturing and construction jobs and their workplaces got 78 percent of OSHA's inspections. The social assistance and health care industry has at least 16 million workers and receives under 2 percent of OSHA's inspections.

In the OSHA press release regarding the BLS statistics, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said she was concerned about injured healthcare workers and vowed to do more to decrease their risks. We hope this includes more inspection of these facilities.

Just last month we posted on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Blog about OSHA's SST program which targets, for inspection, hazardous work environments based on high injury rates. Just to be considered for an inspection, nursing homes have to have a time off from work, job transfer or limited duty rate of 16/100 full-time workers. In 2010, 175 nursing homes were inspected under this program, which is .6 percent of all OSHA inspections.

Continue reading "Workers in Construction, Healthcare, at High Risk of North Carolina Work Accidents" »

Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in a press release its joint effort with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in developing new guidelines for preventing nail gun injuries for those working in the construction industry.

Our North Carolina workers' compensation lawyers in Charlotte are aware that injuries from nail guns send about 37,000 workers to the hospital annually. If not used properly, nail guns can inflict fatal injuries.

Using a nail gun is a daily occurrence for residential construction workers. This tool is not hard to operate; all it takes is a pull of the trigger to discharge the nail. Most often an injury happens to the hand, inflicting structural damage to bones, joints, tendons and nerves 25 percent of the time. There have also been reports of these accidents at work causing paralysis, brain damage and blindness.

The Nail Gun Safety - A Guide for Construction Contractors has helpful information about all types of nail guns, but pays particular attention to framing nail guns because they are the most dangerous and use the biggest nails.

The most important safety feature on a nail gun is its trigger. The full sequential trigger is the safest one to have. The only way this nail gun will fire is if the safety contact tip is against the work surface and then the trigger is pulled in that order only. To fire multiple nails the safety contact tip and the trigger both must be release. This is the only trigger out of a total of four, the others being contact, single actuation and single sequential, that requires releasing both the trigger and safety contact tip in order to discharge multiple nails.

The guide reviews the risk factors that most contribute to nail gun injuries: unintended double fires or unintended nail fires when the safety contact tip is accidentally hit while the trigger is pulled, nails that pass through or ricochet off work pieces, nails that totally miss their intended target, nailing in an awkward position and bypassing safety features.

How to avoid potentially devastating nail gun injuries:
-Read the owner's manual that comes with any nail gun prior to its use.
-Wearing safety goggles/glasses are a must.
-Never touch the trigger until you are ready to fire.
-Keep co-workers out of the line of fire.
-Treat a nail gun as you would a hand gun, never point it at anyone.
-Prior to clearing a jam always disconnect the air hose.
-Make sure the safety contact tip is against the work piece prior to firing the nail gun.
-Never use bottled gas for a compressed air nail gun and never exceed the air pressure needed for the gun.
-Make sure your hands are away from the discharge tip.
-Never use the gun around flammable material.
-Nail sheathing from top to bottom in a vertical position.
-When nailing roof sheathing move from the eaves to the ridge to prevent a potential fall hazard.
-Always move forward, never backward, when nailing flat areas.
-When working above others make sure to secure the hose so the weight of it doesn't pull the nail gun down potentially hitting workers below.

Continue reading "Nail Guns a Dangerous Tool Used at North Carolina Construction Sites Injuring Workers on the Job" »

A Lowe's employee was shot and killed while working at her cash register. What makes this event even more tragic was the gunman was her husband.

Our North Carolina workers' compensation lawyers in Hickory and elsewhere recently posted on our North Carolina Workers' Compensation Blog that nationally there were over 500 workplace homicides in 2010.

Within hours leading up to the shooting, Por Ye Lor, 31, was outside his home putting together a ride-on toy for his kids. He then went to his wife's workplace, around 5:20 p.m. where witnesses report seeing the couple arguing. He then pulled out a handgun and shot his wife, Zoua Xiong, in the head, and then turned the gun on himself.

In a few short minutes, three young children ages 6, 4 and 2 were left orphaned. Neighbors, relatives and friends all deny knowing of any problems between the couple. Neighbors described the couple as being peaceful and quiet, often playing outside with their kids or tending to their garden.

Just recently they had installed an in-ground swimming pool. Xiong, 25, had worked at Lowe's for 6 years and was a head cashier. She was well liked by her co-workers who tragically witnessed this horrific event. The store was closed the next day and grief counselors were called in to talk with traumatized employees.

The Social Services Department of Rowan County took the children and placed them in foster care and hopes to have them with family members as soon as possible.
Typically there are four different types of violence that occur in the workplace:

-Patients or clients commit the violent act.
These types of events usually take place in the health care industry like at psychiatric hospitals or nursing homes. Caregivers are often the victims of these attacks. Other types of workers that are exposed to these incidents include flight attendants, prison staff, police officers and teachers.

-Violence that occurs as the result of a robbery or other type of crime.
The assailant has no reasonable relationship to the employee or business. Victims that are most often at risk for this type of attack are: taxi drivers, convenience store clerks, and security guards.

-Violent acts to managers and co-workers.
In these cases the perpetrator does have a past relationship with the business. The attacker is a former employee who has a beef with either a former co-worker or boss. Statistically these incidents are rare but they often get a huge amount of media attention.

-Domestic violence that leads to workplace violence.
This is what the Lowe's shooting appears to be. The husband did not have a relationship with the business but his wife, the intended victim, worked there. It is estimated by the U.S. Department of Justice that boyfriends and husbands commit roughly 13,000 violent acts to their girlfriends and wives in the workplace annually.

Continue reading "North Carolina Shooting at Lowe's a Reminder of Workplace Violence in Hickory, Elsewhere" »

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced its yearly inspection plan for 2011. The Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program's goal is to focus the agency's resources on highly dangerous workplaces which have demonstrated a high rate of occupational illnesses and injuries.

Our North Carolina workers' compensation lawyers in Greensboro are familiar with the SST program, but are concerned that it doesn't include construction job sites.

OSHA's SST program inspects workplaces that have at least 20 or more employees and that are not related to construction. To be identified as a high-hazard workplace, companies must have above-average rates in work-related illnesses and injuries. These rates are determined through data gathered from OSHA's 2010 Data Initiative survey.

This assessment includes 80,000 large businesses from high-hazard industries. Businesses are randomly picked for inspection from a list of at least 3,700 non-manufacturing, manufacturing, and personal care and nursing facilities. A spokesperson for OSHA feels that through these inspections, flaws in health and safety practices can be found and corrected thus making these high hazard workplaces safer.

Changes in the SST program since 2010 include the number of employees per company went from 40 to 20 and new this year is an evaluation process to see if the SST program recommendations and assistance is making a difference regarding future OSHA inspections.

OSHA additionally has a National Emphasis Program (NEP) that has a total of 14 individual programs including lead, amputations, crystalline silica, trenching/excavations, shipbreaking, covered chemical facilities process safety management, hexavalent chromium, recordkeeping, diacetyl, federal agencies, monitoring air traffic control towers, combustible dust, petroleum refinery process safety management and primary metals. The NEP does a much more in depth inspection in these areas.

OSHA also has about 140 Local and Regional Emphasis Programs (LEPs and REPs). The SST- 2011 plan can be viewed in its entirety on OSHA's website.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out, construction workers are engaged in many hazardous tasks, including working at elevated heights, digging ditches and trenches, working in environments with extreme noise and/or dust, using all kinds of power tools and equipment, working in close quarters/confined spaces and being near high voltage electricity.

In 2009, construction workers had the most fatal injuries of any private sector industry. Falls made up over one-third of fatal injuries in construction (34 percent). Forty-eight percent of all private industry fatal falls happened to construction workers. Transportation-related construction incidents accounted for 25 percent of fatal injuries and coming in contact with equipment or objects caused 19 percent of fatal construction injuries. Over 92,000 construction workers in 2009 suffered a non-fatal injury or illness that required time off from work. That is a rate of 4.3 incidents per 100 full-time workers.

Workers' compensation lawyers in North Carolina are concerned that the agency has skipped over one of the most dangerous industries in our state, but rather focused on a wide variety of areas in the SST program. We don't take away the importance of safety in other industries, but inspecting for safe environments at construction sites should be equally as important. If you have been injured at work, find an experienced attorney that is on your side and will help you work through the complexities of the case.

Continue reading "Work Site Safety Inspections Important in Reducing Work Injuries in Charlotte, Asheville" »