Several months ago, the North Carolina Industrial Commission published their Annual Report for 2014 - 2015. Based on the Annual Report, employer fraud was by far the overwhelming majority of investigated fraud in the North Carolina workers'’ compensation system. The Annual Report tracked investigations of suspected fraud and violations related to workers'’ compensation involving employees, [...]
Recent years have not been favorable to injured workers'. States across the nation have enacted “reform” measures curbing injured workers' benefits. Disability caps have been introduced, medical care restricted. In our last blog, we discussed Oklahoma’s Opt Out provisions as an example of the court system declaring that the legislature had legislated away too much [...]
Ever since Oklahoma employers were allowed to “opt out” of the workers'’ compensation system in 2013, nearly 60 big employers have chosen the “opt out” path. By opting out, these large corporations (like Wal-Mart and Big Lots) are no longer constrained by the requirements of the Oklahoma State workers'’ compensation laws. Instead they are allowed [...]
Today's post was shared by US Labor Department and comes from blog.dol.gov The National Weather Service is warning much of the country about the polar vortex, an arctic air mass that is pushing much of the eastern and central U.S. down to record cold temperatures.During this wave, workers' are at increased risk of cold stress. [...]
Today's post was shared by US Labor Department and comes from www.osha.gov Moving large, heavy loads is crucial to today's manufacturing and construction industries. Much technology has been developed for these operations, including careful training and extensive workplace precautions. There are significant safety issues to be considered, both for the operators of the diverse "lifting" [...]
Super Bowl 50 what a game! As a Panthers’ fan, it was depressing to see our usually high-scoring offense crushed by the Broncos’ defense. However, the Panthers’ defense kept us in the game until the bitter end. The dedication of Thomas Davis, a Panthers’ linebacker, was quite a site. Davis, who sustained a broken forearm [...]
Today's post comes from guest author Kit Case, from Causey Law Firm. Wall to Wall Tile & Stone of Vancouver, Wash. has been fined $261,000 for failing to protect workers' from exposure to silica dust and other health hazards associated with stone slab grinding. The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cited the employer for [...]
Today's post was shared by Jon L Gelman and comes from workers-compensation.blogspot.com Study Finds Costumes and Party Supplies Sold by Top Retailers Contain Hazardous Additives (Ann Arbor, MI) -- A study released today by the Ecology Center's HealthyStuff.org project has found elevated levels of toxic chemicals in popular Halloween costumes, accessories and party supplies. The [...]
Number Value Non-Employee Fraud Cases 9 $ 848,000,000 Employee Fraud Cases 1 $ 1,500,000 Total $ 849,500,000 The top six of our top ten fraud cases of 2015 are from California, a perennial offender. The other four cases are from New York, Washington, Utah, and Massachusetts. As we continue to discover each year, non-employee fraud cases [...]
Today's post was shared by US Labor Department and comes from www.msha.gov ARLINGTON, Va. – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement on the 10-year anniversary of the Sago Mine disaster:“On Jan. 2, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West [...]