The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created to protect workers from hazardous conditions in their jobs. But due to numerous changes in the workplace since the agency was created in 1970, as well as pressures from special interest groups, OSHA is failing to protect many workers from common workplace…
Every day thousands of workers in North Carolina are subject to toxic substances. Most of the time, proper precautions are taken to make sure no harm comes from working with these chemicals. One such substance is benzene. Benzene is naturally found in volcanoes and forest fires. But it is also…
A head injury on a worksite can cause everything in the vicinity to come to a standstill. These are very dangerous — potentially fatal — injuries that should be addressed immediately. It is important for both the injured person and anyone around to stay calm; inducing panic will not be…
Workers who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses in North Carolina and who seek to file workers compensation benefit claims have two options available to them in seeking assistance. One is to use the North Carolina Industrial Commission, specifically its Workers Compensation Information Specialists Section. Beyond the information generally available on…
Workers’ compensation claims frequently, but not always take place in the context of employees being injured at their place of employment, such as a construction site, factory floor or office. But we at Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler know that what is most important in establishing a claim for workers’ compensation…
The death of a family member from an incident connected to employment is extremely difficult for surviving family members. The purpose of workers’ compensation is to at least partially alleviate such work-related loss by providing weekly compensation payments and covering burial expenses. Navigating North Carolina’s Worker’s Compensation Act, however, can sometimes feel…
Working in a field environment such as construction can lead to a variety of traumatic injuries. You can be struck by a falling object; run over by a vehicle; fall from scaffolding; have a limb mangled by a piece of equipment or machinery; be exposed to hazardous substances, and more.…
We have discussed in previous posts North Carolina workers’ compensation law as it relates to the types of benefits that may be qualified for and the employers who are subject to the law. To recap on the latter topic, with only limited exceptions any employer having at least three employees…
A recent report prepared by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicates that despite the availability of means such as workers’ compensation to assist them, injured workers still face long-term income losses and other economic setbacks that the government agency concludes are unacceptable. The report, “Adding Inequality to Injury: The…
Not all workplace accidents lead to workers’ compensation benefit claims, even if the underlying injury is one that would lead to benefits eligibility. Sometimes from the perspective of the employer and its workers’ compensation insurer, it is more practical to offer the injured worker a settlement in lieu of going…