With the passage of SB863, fewer doctors are treating patients on a lien. Some injured workers who had been treating with a doctor, who had been providing services on a lien, are abruptly being cut-off from care. The appointment clerk tells the patient, “I’m sorry but we cannot schedule a
Safety regulations issued by federal and state agencies are intended to make modern workplaces safer and prevent injuries. Yet data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicates that many types of injuries are recurring, despite those efforts. As a workers’ compensation attorney might attest, back injuries, eye injuries, and accidents from
When one considers the vast diversity of materials that go into the average residential or commercial construction project, it’s small wonder that particulate dust from those materials may be released as a byproduct. Respirable crystalline silica is an example of the dust that results when construction workers chip, cut or
In a recent post, we discussed the On-site Consultation Program. Offered by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the program functions as an incentive to small business owners. However, the program may benefit both employer and employee alike. By taking proactive safety measures — usually offered in the form
The machinery and technology on construction sites continue to become more advanced. Drivers or pedestrians that pass by construction workers might see them in towering machines or walking on scaffolding at great heights. Yet despite many impressive mechanical innovations, the risk of injury on construction sites continues to be a
State and federal workplace safety regulations are intended to be preventive in nature, shielding workers from foreseeable dangers and occupational hazards. Routine inspections by official from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also help achieve that policy goal. Finally, whistleblowing or other protections may be available to workers who report
Exposure to particulates in the workplace can pose a health risk to workers. A century ago, grain mills without adequate ventilation technology may have exposed workers to unhealthy levels of flour dust, resulting in a condition commonly referred to as white lung. The modern equivalent turns out to be silica
Although many California companies might be exploring the feasibility of alternative fuel sources, petroleum remains a dominant fuel source for consumers and businesses. That demand, in turn, requires infrastructure and plants. Yet the concentration of highly flammable gas or petroleum products in one plant might create a safety hazard, as
According to recent data, California’s state regulators are enforcing workplace safety rules with efforts that may exceed their federal counterparts. Issuing citations and levying fines for workplace safety violations are a common tactic used by safety officials. On average, a fine for a violation of a safety rule promulgated by
A workplace inspection by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration official that results in a citation might subject an employer to financial penalties. Although a large corporation might be able to absorb that expense, the subjective impact to a small business owner might be much greater. Yet a workers’ compensation lawyer might
