If you are injured at work or have developed a work related illness, your doctor will decide your course of treatment, when you can return to work, if you are disabled and to what extent. If your company’s insurance company disagrees with the treating doctor’s evaluation or requires further clarification, they may ask you to… Read More »
Construction Accident Prevention
Construction accident prevention is key in reducing the number of workplace fatalities and injuries in the U.S. With 1 and 5 deaths occurring at construction sites, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) brings attention to particular hazards construction workers face known as the Fatal Four: falling, struck by accidents, electrocution, and caught in or… Read More »
Fear of Retaliation – Unreported Work Injuries
A complaint about employer retaliation posted on the Des Moines Register’s Readers Watchdog in November has shaken things up at Des Moines Public Works. The tip posted by an unnamed employee said workers were not reporting on-the-job injuries for fear of being ‘written up’ prompting an investigation by Iowa OSHA. Research reveals that work place… Read More »
Snow Removal Accidents Pose Risk to Workers
With the winter weather finally descending on central Iowa, all workers charged with snow removal should be aware of and prepare for potential hazards involved with this winter work. Hazards of snow removal can pose a real threat to snow removal workers, after all. There are annual incidences of vehicle strikes; eye injuries or amputations… Read More »
Denied Workers’ Compensation
If you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits, don’t give up. Talk to an Iowa workers’ compensation benefits lawyer as soon as possible to determine if an appeal of your workers’ compensation claim denial is your best course of action. Some work comp claims are denied simply because of errors in documentation or filing procedures,… Read More »
Geography is Destiny in the World of Workers’ Compensation
Because Congress allows each state to determine its own workers’ compensation benefits without setting federal minimums, there is a geographic lottery of sorts going on across the country when it comes to how much injured workers will be compensated. Every state has their own unique schedule of benefits, which determines the specific number of weeks… Read More »
Iowa Workplace Fatalities Remembered
Every year on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day is observed across the nation to honor workers who have died on the job and acknowledge the grief of their families, friends and communities while recommitting to making workplaces safe and healthful for everyone. Yesterday, 34 names were read at a Memorial for Iowa workers who died… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Reduced for Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injures are one of the most common injuries in jobs that involve lifting and repetitive motion found in construction, manufacturing, agriculture and even healthcare industries. Shoulder injuries and illnesses caused workers to miss a median of 26 days of work, more than any other body part. Iowa Workers’ Compensation for Shoulder Injuries Iowa’s current… Read More »
Restricting Painkillers for Injured Workers | Des Moines Workers’ Comp Law
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.8 million private industry workers and over half a million public sector workers were injured in 2015. In the same year, workers’ comp insurers spent $1.5 billion on opioids, with injured workers accounting for 13 percent of their total opioid pharmacy costs in the U.S. In a… Read More »
New Iowa Workers’ Compensation Law Impacts Workers
Yesterday, new Iowa workers’ compensation legislation was passed, which will go into effect July 1st. House File 518, was signed into law by Governor Branstad ringing in broad changes to the state’s workers’ compensation system affecting Iowans injured on the job. Business groups support the changes saying it will help lower their costs and keep… Read More »
