The family of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld Orlando trainer who drowned when a killer whale pulled her into the water, has one concern – and that is for the safety of other trainers at SeaWorld Orlando. A federal job safety hearing before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Review…
Articles Posted in Workers’ Compensation
International Paper Receives Award for Safety
As workers’ comp attorneys, we hear far too often the tragic story of an employee who has been injured on the job. So we were happy to read on TheCabin.net that the International Paper plant of Conway, AR received an award for going one million hours without an accident. A…
OSHA Tightens Fall Protection in Residential Construction
A recent article on BusinessInsurance.com reports that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will begin to require employers working in the residential construction industry to use the same methods of fall protection that have bene used in the commercial construction industry. The safety measures include guardrail systems, safety…
Expanded Unemployment Benefits Available
Help is may be available for unemployed workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. According to a news released issued recently by the state Department of Labor and Industry, the U.S. Department of Labor and Industry recently notified the state that its “high unemployment period” with a rate of 8.1…
Top Jobs That Are Prone to Depression
A recent article on Health.com reports that some jobs are more likely to cause depression than others. They listed 10 fields out of 21 major job categories in which full-time workers might experience a depressive episode. But all is not lost for those who might be interested in one of…
Hearing for Berks insurance agent charged with theft scheduled
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9 for a Berks County man charged with theft of more than $255,000 in Worker’s Compensation insurance premiums. According to workerscompensation .com, Joseph A. Maurer, 58, of Mohnton, who owned and operated Commonwealth Professional Group, Reading, is accused of taking more than $188,000…
Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Still Rising
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose slightly from August to September according to the state Department of labor and Industry. September’s rate was 8.9 percent up from 8.2 percent in August. The state rate for last month was below the national figure of 9.1 percent and has been below the national rate…
Jobs That May Be Bad for Your Lungs
Job-related lung disease is just one of many occupational hazards. Some fields can be more risky that others. But according to an article on Health.com, most types of occupational lung disease are preventable. Philip Harber, MD, professor and chief of the UCLA Occupational and Environmental Medicine Division says, “Simple control…
Deadline for Posting Employee’s Rights Notice Moved
All private-sector employers under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board must post an Employee’s Rights notice by Jan. 31, 2012. According to the NLRB website, the date was moved from the November 2011 deadline to allow small and medium size businesses more time to determine if they fall…
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance Benefits Available to Those Out of Work due to Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are available for people out of work due to the effects of Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee. Although the deadline to apply for assistance due to Hurricane Irene was Oct. 14, there is still time…