Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Lawyers Blog

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a former Avenues employee filed a complaint with OSHA, saying the facilities are “unsanitary, inadequate, and outdated” for clients and workers. Avenues provides employment and other opportunities to people with disabilities. It began in 1952 as United Cerebral Palsy.

In the complaint, the former employee stated that doors to the building are not accessible to those in wheelchairs; there is no security system or security personnel; there is no designated separate waste receptacles to dispose of soiled latex gloves, disposable briefs, diapers, and wipes; chemicals and other hazardous materials are left in an unlocked garage workshop; as well as some other problems.

Tsudis Chocolate Co. was fined over $87,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after an accident at its Pittsburgh manufacturing facility.

According to an article on BizJournals.com, an employee sustained crushing injuries to his right hand and wrist in February after a machine activated while he was setting it up. That accident prompted an inspection by OSHA.

In a statement, OSHA said, “Tsudis Chocolate could have prevented this unfortunate incident by having the proper hazardous energy controls in place.”

A new study from the insurance company Allsup, reports that nursing facilities are the 5th most dangerous workplace in the U.S. The report also says that nursing facilities are the most dangerous places to work in Maine.

According to an article on McKnights.com, the study analyzed serious workplace injuries that resulted in an employee being prevented from performing the usual functions of a job or from working a full day.

In the study, Maine had the most worker injuries in private and state-run nursing facilities. There was an average of five injuries per 100 workers. The study also reported that Iowa had the most injuries for facilities run by the state and Indiana had the most injuries occurring in private nursing homes.

Nursing home workers face the most risk when moving residents. In fact, the American Nurses Association is encouraging a reduction in manual handling of residents to help reduce worker injuries.

Continue reading

At the height of the summer cookout season, a tragedy unfolded this week in central Florida, where propane tank cylinders exploded at a Blue Rhino refilling plant.

According to an article on CNN.com, eight plant workers were injured in the blasts that took place Monday night. An evacuation order for homes within a half-mile of the facility had been issued by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The fire was put out three hours after the explosions began. The evacuation has since been lifted.

First reports said there were 15 workers missing, but later all workers were found safe. No residents were hurt.

Employees at the plant refurbish propane cylinders and load them on palates and vehicles. They refill propane tanks that are used in gas grills. The company has a tank exchange service that lets customers trade an empty propane tank for a full one at retail locations.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosions. But the article reported that a fire official said equipment failure and human error are likely to blame.

In 2011, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Blue Rhine for a “serious” safety violation involving tools and equipment.

Continue reading

According to an article on NCBI.gov, back pain and chronic back pain, as well as the cost associated with each has increased drastically over the past few years. The reason, according to the study, is because of the aging baby boomers, who are now in the stage of life where deteriorating joints can cause pain such as this.

Unfortunately this is putting more of a strain on the resources of the healthcare system. In a study running from the year 2000 they measured a 29% increase in back pain, as well as a 64% increase in chronic back pain, along with an increase of 129% in the amount of money spent on treating these patients! That’s $37.5 billion dollars in one year.

Since around 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some time in their life, here are some ways to make it a little less painful if you are suffering from short term back pain: