As anyone who has worked for the law offices of O’Connor Law will tell you, Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. Staff and attorneys go all out, to come up with creative and eye-catching costumes. And this year was no exception. Office festivities included prizes for best costume. There…
Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog
Statistics of Amputation Injuries in Ohio Highlight Importance of Safeguarding Equipment
Over a 7-year period, more than 5,000 workers in Ohio suffered amputation injuries, according to statistics from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. In an article by the Associated Press, statistics show that there were 5,405 compensation claims for amputation injuries in Ohio from 2006 through 2012. Although amputations may…
Closing of the Hazleton Workers’ Compensation Office
In early October, the Hazleton Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication, located in Hazle Township, was closed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. According to the deputy press secretary for the department, the closing was done in an effort to balance workloads and assure more efficient adjudication. As of…
Proposed Legislation Would Mean Major Changes to PA WC Law
The law firm of O’Connor Law was started by an attorney with a mission: to help injured workers obtain workers’ compensation benefits and to defend injured workers against insurance companies that would attempt to terminate, suspend, or modify their lost wage benefits. This mission came about through Attorney O’Connor’s first-hand…
Pennsylvania’s New Workers’ Compensation Automation System Causing Problems Across the State
In September, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry launched a new Workers’ Compensation Automation and Integration System (WCAIS) that was designed to create efficiencies in the process of filing a workers’ comp claim. Less than 2 months later, the new system is more of a headache for all involved.…
Pennsylvania Man Opens Class-Action Law Suit Against Amazon
An Allentown man, fed up with the daily 10-20 minute security checks that he and fellow employees must go through before work, after work, and during lunch breaks, has filed a class-action law suit against his employer and retail giant, Amazon. According to an article on the WashingtonTimes.com, he is…
Fire Erupts at Container Company in Berwick
A fire tore through a container company in Berwick last night, but no one was injured. According to WNEP.com, the fire started after a mechanic had worked on a machine at Consolidated Container Company. The company makes containers for products such as milk and detergents. Everyone in the building was…
Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry Launches New Workers’ Compensation Automation System
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry launched a new Workers’ Compensation Automation and Integration System (WCAIS). The goal of the new system is to increase efficiencies for insurers, employers, and claimants. According to a press release, the Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway said,…
Facebook Photos Land Man in Hot Water with Workers’ Comp Bureau
It seems like common sense, but there are still some people that don’t realize the power that posting photos to Facebook has to affect their lives…and in some cases, their pocketbooks. Take the case of an Ohio man who was injured on the job and began collecting workers’ comp benefits.…
OSHA Investigates Nonprofit Organization in Schuylkill County
After receiving reports of poor working conditions, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the nonprofit organization Avenues, located in Pottsville. According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, a former Avenues employee filed a complaint with OSHA, saying the facilities are “unsanitary, inadequate, and outdated” for clients and…