Blog

Insurance carrier Liberty Mutual has compiled public and proprietary statistics to develop the Top 10 causes of disabling injuries at work. It’s main finding: Despite a drop in serious accidents of 1.5 percent in the past year, workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $58 billion per year, up 3 percent from 2017. The Top 10 Overexertion is the top cause of workplace injuries, including injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying and throwing. These injuries cost businesses $13.7 billion per year. These account for roughly 23.4 percent of the total number of accidents. Falls on the same level, such as trips or slips, account for costs of $11.2 billion per year and are 19.2 percent of total accidents. Falls to a lower level cost $5.9 billion per year, or about 10 percent of the total. Being struck by equipment or other object costs $5.3 billion per year for about 9.1 percent of total accidents. Injuries from other exertions such as bending, reaching, twisting or climbing cost $4.2 billion – about 7.2 percent of the accidents. Roadway incidents involving vehicles accounts for $3.2 billion – about 5.5 percent. Slips or trips without falling or resisting a fall cost $2.3 billion, or 3.9 percent of the accident total. Getting caught in equipment such as gears or rollers costs $2.1 billion, or 3.6 percent of the total. Striking an object such as an open drawer while walking costs $2 billion, or 3.5 percent of the total. Repetitive motion injuries cost $1.5 billion, or 2.6 percent of the total. The remaining causes cost U.S. businesses $20.3 billion per year. To gather this information, Liberty Mutual used data from its own database, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance. Researchers looked at Bureau of Labor Statistics data that showed how many employees missed work for six or more days, then ranked the events by total workers’ compensation costs. Workplace accidents can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills, physical therapy and lost wages as well as many other costs. If you or a loved one have an accident in the workplace, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Contact a qualified workers’ compensation attorney to be made aware of all your options.

Workplace safety is an important part of keeping employees healthy. As a new employee, it’s your employer’s job to make sure you understand the best ways to stay safe in the workplace, whether that is through training you to work with machinery or tools or by providing you with informational pamphlets on acceptable behavior in the office. No accident can be avoided all of the time, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work to prevent incidents at work. According to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, around 4,585 people were killed in 2013 due to work-related accidents. That doesn’t even begin to factor in the number of people who suffered debilitating injuries. So what can you do to help prevent accidents? First, keep yourself safe. Don’t be afraid to mention a hazard or issue that is making it more dangerous for you to be in the workplace. If your employer has you working with machinery or vehicles, make sure those items are maintained. Check for maintenance records, and recommend maintenance if it’s been several months or years since the last check. Usually, it’s a good idea to do visual maintenance each time you use a tool, vehicle or piece of machinery. Finally, your employer should always have proper signage posted around the workplace. It should have information on what to do if you’re exposed to hazards and the steps to take if you need to file a workers’ compensation claim after an injury. Your attorney can help you if you are struggling to file a claim or if your employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance. You have the right to compensation for your injuries. Source: Business.com, “ Workplace Accidents: How to Avoid Them and What to Do When They Happen,” Simon Brisk, accessed March 03, 2017

Stressful situations often mean that the people involved in them aren’t able to keep their minds on what they are doing. Whether you’re dealing with stress that comes from a family or personal financial situation or the workplace itself is stressful, if your mind is occupied, it stands to reason that you are more likely to make an error. Errors on the job can lead to workplace accidents — that’s true for everyone on the team. A study published by the U.S. Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health says that this conclusion isn’t just common sense. After reviewing the results of surveys to over 60,000 participants at 58 different companies, researchers were able to conclude that mental distress was a factor in the risk for a workplace accident. In fact, either moderate or high levels of psychological stress increased the odds ratio that an injury might occur by a factor of 1.4. The researchers also noted that moderate levels of psychological distress were a bigger impact on workplace safety than higher levels of distress simply because they were more predominate. First, situations that cause moderate stress occur more often; second, workers who experience a high level of psychological distress are more likely to recognize they aren’t functioning fully and might call in sick or take other action to reduce the risks of accidents. The link between stress and workplace injuries is important to understand. It lets employers better train and safeguard staff, and it lets workers know when they should back away from certain tasks. Regardless of the mental or psychological stresses involved, though, if you are hurt in an on-the-job injury, you do have options for seeking compensation through workers compensation. Source: US National Library of Medicine, “ Associations between psychological distress, workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes,” M.F. Hilton and H.A. Whiteford, accessed March 01, 2017

Unfortunately, we cannot predict when or where the next mining accident will occur. However, there are specific things that can be done to limit the risks of a mining accident. — Train, train and train some more: Miners must have extensive safety training and there is a lot of not only mandatory training for minors, but optional training, too. — Simulation: Many of those in charge of mining operations make use of high-tech tools to train miners correctly. Some of these tools include virtual reality simulators and machinery simulators. When miners can see what can happen in emergencies, the skill and progress of the miner can be easier to pinpoint. — Safety legislation: Governments, professional organizations, labor organizations, mine operators and many more academia are likely to make up the rules to mining. Many international mining groups have pushed their exploitation and health and safety standards. When these are implements, it becomes safer. However, There are other things to consider, too, such as personal protective equipment, safer explosive products and the replacement of workers for operations that are the most dangerous. If you have a workers’ compensation claim because of a workplace accident, you may benefit from the knowledge of an experienced attorney. Your attorney can work to provide you with a strong defense, including one that can handle all of the ins and outs that your case will have. You deserve to be compensated when you are injured in a workplace accident. Such compensation can include medical expenses, emotional distress and lost wages, all of which can be of importance when you are injured and unable to work. Source: The Balance, “ What Can Be Done to Prevent Mining Accidents?,” Emily A. Gardner and Michael Belcher, accessed Dec. 07, 2016

One of the most frequent citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for construction work involves scaffolding. The hazards associated with the use of scaffolding are significant, accounting for fatalities each year in the construction industry. The Safety Standards for Scaffolds Use in the Construction Industry is OSHA’s rule, in place to protect those who work with scaffolding. There are several provisions to this rule, including: — Inspections: Before each shift or after something happens that could affect the scaffold’s structural integrity, it must be inspected for defects by a competent person. –Fall arrest systems and fall protection: Every employee who is over 10 feet above a lower level must be protected by a fall arrest system or guardrails. — Capacity: Scaffolds and related components must be able to support at least four times the maximum load. Rigging must support at least 6 times the maximum load. — Training: Each employee must go through training on the possible hazards and how to best control them. — Guardrail height: For scaffolds used after Jan. 1, 2000, the height of the toprail must be between 38 inches and 45 inches. There are specific instances when the person inspecting the scaffolding must a competent person, a qualified person or an engineer. The instances are quite complex and are listed in OSHA’s scaffold law. If you have been injured in a scaffold accident or you lost a loved in a scaffold accident, you have a right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits or workers’ compensation death benefits. If your claim is denied, an experienced attorney can help you file an appeal. Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry,” accessed Nov. 08, 2016

Tractor roll bars are an important safety tool that help save lives on farms. Farmers who used tractors without a roll bar risk being crushed if the tractor rolls over. Roll bars can cost upwards of $2,000 a piece, while those for John Deere tractors may be sold for $1,200 or less. Is there any help for farmers who want to purchase this safety equipment? In some states, those who purchase these roll bars can receive rebates since they are being safer than other users. It’s worth reaching out to the manufacturer and a legal professional to find out of the local government or manufacturers are offering rebates. How effective are rollover systems? Rollover systems are 99 percent effective for preventing injuries and deaths when a roll bar is used with a seat belt. When seat belts aren’t being used, the system is still 70 percent effective. How many rollover deaths are a result of poor training? Around 80 percent of all tractor rollover deaths involve experienced farmers. Without the system in place, it’s possible to break legs, suffer head injuries, break arms, suffer lacerations or be crushed under the weight of the tractor as it rolls. It should be required to use a seat belt when you have a roll bar installed, because it keeps you in position if you roll. The roll bar protects you from crushing injuries that would take place if there was no structure above you, but it can also cause injuries if you’re not strapped in when your tractor rolls. With the right safety equipment, you can stay safer on the farm. If you are an employee who has to work with equipment that doesn’t have all the necessary safety equipment and you get hurt, you should be able to seek workers’ compensation payments. Source: Inforum, “ Tractor roll bars help save lives in most common farm accidents,” Don Davis, accessed Oct. 26, 2016

According to Carnegie Mellon University, 15 percent of all accidental deaths are due to slips, trips and falls. It is second only to fatalities caused by motor vehicles. Is there a difference between a slip, a trip and a fall? For victims, there really isn’t much difference. Pain is pain, right? However, there are some real differences. Slips happen when there isn’t enough traction or friction between the walking surface and your feet. Slips most commonly occur on wet or icy surfaces or when footwear has poor tread. Tips for preventing slips include: — Wearing shoes with slip-resistant footwear. — Walk slowly on surfaces affected by rain, snow, sleet or other weather hazards. — Clean up spills as soon as possible. — When walking on wet surfaces, walk with your feet pointed out slightly, shorten your stride and make wider turns. Trips are different. These accidents occur when you are thrown off balance because your foot strikes an object. In order to avoid tripping on something: — Keep glasses clean of fog. — Don’t let packages you carry to obstruct your view. — Report missing or burned out lights, broken or uneven pavement or broken or missing handrails. — Be conscious of an elevator’s threshold. — Close file cabinet and desk drawers when you’re not using them. Finally, falls occur from one level to another level. Falling down stairs is one of the most common examples. Ways to prevent falls include: — Never using a chair as a ladder. — Use the proper ladder for the job. — Don’t jump from the last step on a flight of stairs — always walk. — Use handrails. — Always report conditions that could be unsafe. No matter how safe you may believe you are at work, an accident can still occur. If this happens to you and is due to the negligence of your employer, you have a right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. If those benefits are denied, an attorney can help you learn more about your legal options. Source: Carnegie Mellon University, “Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention,” accessed Aug. 28, 2016

If you’ve ever worked in a harbor, you know that it can be very dangerous if safety protocols aren’t followed. Boats and machinery move around the harbor, and floating platforms and other structures are held in place but still shift with the currents. Buoys are used to prevent boats from coming too close to certain areas and to provide the captains with information on how to proceed into the area. Working in a harbor can be dangerous because of the exposure to all these constantly changing elements. One business from Maryland and another from Hawaii have seen how quickly injuries can be caused when even one safety protocol isn’t followed on the job. Truston Technologies, a company based in Maryland, and Healy Tibbits, which is based in Hawaii, had been working on a federal contract in Pearl Harbor when two workers were killed. According to the news report, the workers were killed due to the companies’ lack of safety when it came to the weight of loads on a wire rope sling. The companies allowed loads to exceed the maximum working limits. At the time of the accident, the two workers had been repairing some moorings when a buoy dropped from a chain above the men. The buoy dropped around 75 feet before striking the men. The U.S. Department of Labor reviewed the incident and fined the companies $46,000 for safety violations. No one else was hurt, according to the news, but there was no information on the steps the companies took to reduce the risk of injuries in the future. Source: Construction Equipment Guide, “ Contractors Face Fines After Pearl Harbor Accident Kills 2,” June 12, 2015

Working is something most people have to do in Maryland. In order to supply your family with food, housing and the things they need, that could mean spending long hours at work or even taking on multiple jobs. Something you should know is the risk of injury in the industry you choose to work in. By investigating this, you can make a better choice about how you want to work. Looking at a chart produced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, you can see that per 100 full-time employees, 8.7 were injured while working in state nursing homes or residential car facilities. These injuries could come from moving heavy patients or due to repetitive motions, among other reasons. This industry had the most injuries per 100 workers. The industries with the fewest injured workers per 100 full-time employees was linen supply, amusement and theme parks, and camper manufacturing. In these industries, only 4.7 workers were injured per 100 in 2013. In many of the industries represented, more people were hurt in 2013 than in 2012, showing that safety levels may not be improving. In some areas, though, safety has improved dramatically. Take for instance the mobile home manufacturing industry. In 2012, 10 people per 100 were injured while performing their jobs. In 2013, that dropped to 5.6 on average. Another interesting thing to consider is the amount of people getting hurt working in local government nursing facilities versus residential care facilities at the state level. State employees were injured more often, with 84 injuries in 2012 and 8.7 in 2013. In comparison, local employees had only 6.4 instances of injuries in 2012 and 4.9 in 2013. Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “ Highest incidence rates1 of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer, 2013” accessed Feb. 26, 2015

No matter what type of job you have, there is always the chance that a workplace accident could occur. While this is more common in industries like construction than it is in others, it is important to pay attention to what is going on around you at all times. Unfortunately, even if you are paying close attention to your surroundings, a workplace accident could happen that leaves you injured or even dead. According to local authorities, a Maryland man has been killed in an accident in which he was crushed by a spool of metal. Reports state that the accident occurred at Canam Steel in Point of Rocks recently. Immediately following the accident, shortly after 1 p.m., Maryland State police were called to the Canam Steel building on Clay Street. It was there that the man was attempting to load a crate with a large spool of metal when he was crushed. Due to the size and weight of the spool, when it fell on the 38-year-old man after coming loose, it led to his immediate death. Even though no foul play is suspected, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the accident, including how the spool of metal came loose while being loaded. There are times when a workplace accident only injures the person involved. Unfortunately, there are also cases like this one when the victim is killed. In the event of this type of accident, the company in charge is often the target of a lawsuit filed by the victim or their survivors, if the person passes on. Source: The Washington Post, “Hagerstown man dead after workplace accident” Jul. 08, 2014

When you’re hurt at work in Maryland, you expect to receive compensation so that you can take the time you need to get better. In this case, a deputy who suffered a workplace injury wants to be allowed to work again, so he can retire can collect his retirement benefits. He claims that he has not returned to work due to post-traumatic stress disorder related to a fatal shooting on the job, which has caused his mental on the job injury. Post-traumatic stress injuries are not commonly accepted as an injury in many states, although this is now changing. The April 4 news talks about an interesting point reflecting that mental pain should also be considered an injury. According to the story, the deputy claims he was fired during his recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder after he had to shoot and kill a man. Now, he wants to get his job back. If he is re-employed, he will be able to complete his treatment until he reaches his highest level of medical improvement. Once he reaches that level of recovery, the doctor can decide if he can return to duty. This path to returning to work would also open up doors to medical disability retirement. The man had previously returned to work following the shooting of a man two years ago. However, after returning to work, he reported that his police dog bit him, and he asked for time off due to a stomach condition. After that, he won a compensation award of fourth months worth of wages and medical expenses. Because the man has now moved on to opening his own trophy and awards shop, it’s argued that he doesn’t have the total and permanent disability required to seek a medical disability retirement. The officer was allowed to take a full year to recover, according to the story, but he claims it wasn’t enough time to allow him to recover from killing someone. The time it takes a person to heal may vary, and it poses the question whether a time limit should — or can — be placed on the healing process. It may be worth the legal battle for this deputy to continue his fight for regaining employment or possibly collecting an early medical retirement. He is a younger individual Source: SoMdNews, “Fired St. Mary’s deputy wants job back, then to retire” John Wharton, Apr. 04, 2014

In the first part of this post, we raised the question of how the application of enhanced technology could make for a safer and smarter workplace. The types of applications we are talking about go far beyond traditional tools like personal protective equipment. These new applications could conceivably integrate data streams and human perceptions in a way that would make the workplace safer. In this part of the post, we will look at a specific example of how this might be able to reduce the number of workplace injuries in the Baltimore area and across the nation. Last year, a suspicious noise in a steel mill’s oxygen furnace in Northwest Indiana needed to be checked out. The job fell to a 53-year-old man who died from terrible burns caused by the busting of a steam hose that had been under excessive pressure. In a smarter mill of the future, it would probably not be necessary to send a human worker as a canary into that kind of coal mine. Instead, pipes and other equipment could be fitted with sensors that could communicate key safety information to workers. In a sophisticated system of safety sensors, workers would be less likely to be blindsided by dangerous conditions. Instead, the system could even potentially communicate alerts of dangerous conditions. There is also the possibility that wearable technological tools could help humans interact with new streams of real-time data. This doesn’t mean every worker would be Iron Man, the comic book hero with a suit of armor connected to an interactive computer. What it means, in simple terms, is that technology holds out the hope of much safer workplaces in the future compared to today. Source: Wired, “ Forget the Smart City . . . Start With the Smart Workplace,” Chris Chasty, Nov. 1, 2013