On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Saturday, May 19, 2012
National oil distributor Sinclair has experienced a major fire at one of its Western plants, injuring four and sending three to a burn center in Arizona's neighbor Colorado, according to recent reports. Three workers remain hospitalized, and the other was released after receiving treatment, according to health professionals.
The workplace accident occurred during the morning shift in the refinery's gas recovery unit. Reports indicate that the fire was a flash incident and did not continue burning for a long period of time. State occupational health authorities were dispatched to the site on May 8, and an investigation is pending in the incident. Neither government officials nor company representatives have issued official statements about the accident, and projections estimate that the fire will be under investigation for months prior to the release of a formal report.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Thursday, May 10, 2012
A labor law that would have helped to protect young family farm workers was dropped by the Obama administration in late April. The measure, which was increasingly unpopular among rural Americans, was intended to limit workplace accidents among young people by restricting the activities of children younger than 16. Those activities included driving tractors and working in grain bins, which can be fatal for even experienced farmhands.
The Labor Department reported receiving a slew of complaints from small-farm operators throughout the nation, who contended that they would be unable to operate their businesses without the contribution from younger workers. Even school administrators joined in to oppose the measure, which would have limited the ability of vocational students to participate in farming activities.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Arizona Department of Transportation is actively promoting National Work Zone Awareness Week, an initiative that is designed to prevent workplace accidents that affect transportation employees. Recent statistics indicate that work zone deaths are on the rise in Arizona and elsewhere, a fact that has led many municipalities to increase awareness about construction zone safety and alert driving.
Many of the road workers are on the site by the time the morning rush hour occurs at about 6 a.m., according to their supervisors and other drivers. Some vehicle operators in the Phoenix area say they recognize that road workers have hazardous jobs and they say they would be nervous if their family members were employed in that capacity.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Injuries on Monday, April 30, 2012
A construction accident in Arizona's neighboring state, California, has resulted in a worker sustaining serious injuries after falling nearly 14 feet. The man sustained the workplace injuries while he was working on a steel structure at the Palo Alto High School, according to official reports.
The accident occurred at about earlier this month when the 23-year-old man was laying metal decking on the second floor of a building. He plummeted to the concrete floor beneath the scaffolding after he fell. State OSHA officials say that the man broke his hip and several bones in his face when he fell. He had been wearing a hardhat at the time of the accident.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Illness on Sunday, April 22, 2012
A battery explosion in at a General Motors plant has injured two workers and forced the evacuation of 80 others, according to reports issued late last week. The two employees who sustained workplace injuries as a result of the accident have been treated and released. A small fire that occurred as a result of the blast was quickly extinguished. This type of accident is an example of an on-the-job injury that can happen to workers in the Phoenix area.
The explosion occurred earlier this month at about 8:30 a.m., according to emergency response reports. Firefighters responded to the scene shortly afterward, where they found smoke and some remaining flames in the testing room. The blast had been contained to a single room, according to official reports.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workers’ Compensation on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Arizona voters made marijuana a legal medical treatment nearly one year ago. Still, many questions remain about provisions designed to protect prescription cardholders. During a recent panel in Flagstaff, officials attempted to clear the air about uncertainties regarding the laws. The panel discussion featured a special section about marijuana use and its relation to workers' compensation payouts.
Employers and human resources directors have become increasingly concerned about the impact of the medical marijuana provisions upon hiring and firing rules. One county attorney said that employers are prohibited from hiring or firing anyone based solely upon their marijuana cardholder status.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Railway workers throughout the United States, including Arizona, face serious workplace hazards every day. One employee has finally received compensation for the workplace injuries he sustained while working as a rail technician.
The man was awarded $1 million in punitive damages after a jury found that the railway company disciplined him for reporting an injury. The man also received an additional $50,000 for lost earnings, pain and suffering and dismemberment.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workers’ Compensation on Monday, April 9, 2012
A study from the Workers' Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has shown that procedures related to workplace injuries generally cost less in certain states. The states that demonstrate the lowest costs use a per-procedure fee schedule, which seems to minimize procedure cost.
The study was conducted in 17 high-population states between 2003 and 2009. These states were chosen for the study because they accounted for more than 60 percent of nationwide compensation claims. Data analysis showed that outpatient procedures tended to cost significantly more in states that did not have fee schedules for insurance reimbursement. States that used fee schedules that were related to total hospital visit charges were also more costly than the states with strict requirements.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workers’ Compensation on Sunday, April 1, 2012
New evidence released in the shooting death of a police officer may allow his widow to collect workers' compensation benefits that had previously been withheld from her, according to Phoenix officials. The officer's cause of death had been initially ruled a suicide, but new information from officers' testimony has brought that decision under fire.
New reports came from forensic pathology reports that were submitted in December 2011 by experts in Texas. A local criminalist had also contributed findings in June 2011. Both of the reports disputed the suicide ruling, concluding that the officers' manner of death was inconclusive. That is, he was definitely shot, but the investigators could not determine whether the death was a suicide, homicide or undetermined cause.
On behalf of Crossman Law Offices, P.C. posted in Workplace Illness on Sunday, March 25, 2012
As the Phoenix summer weather approaches and the heat edges its way to unbearable levels, we count on blessings for the miracle of air conditioning at home and at the office. Yet, there is one group of workers that aren't able to tap into the cool air when they check into their workplace -- our construction workers.
Layers in the necessary protective clothing and equipment the workers in charge of repairing our highways and byways are exposed to the elements each day. With that exposure to the extreme sun and heat adds the risk of work-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and stress.
