The National Safety Council is calling on all Americans to prioritize work safety as Workers’ Memorial Day approaches April 28. Workers Memorial Day not only honors those who lost their lives at work, but also seeks to raise awareness as part of its mission to protect workers from injuries on the job. Preventable workplace fatalities… Read More »
The Difference Between Workers’ Compensation and Third Party Claims
With construction ramping up across Iowa this spring, workers are reminded to take precautions when working at construction sites to avoid injury. Construction workers are at higher risk for falls when working from heights such as rooftops or ladders. Because construction sites have a lot of moving parts such as machinery or vehicles, they are… Read More »
Fired From Job After Drug Testing
The trend toward legalizing the use of recreational pot across the nation shows no sign of stopping. Despite the fact that marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, and recreational use is still prohibited in many states including Iowa, rapid legalization by several states along with a more relaxed attitude toward marijuana use in general… Read More »
Healthcare and Social Worker Injuries Due to Violence
The rate of violence directed at healthcare and social workers is up to 12 times higher than other industries and lawmakers are calling for employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans to protect employees from injury. Last fall, a bill was introduced to compel OSHA to create an enforceable standard to ensure employers… Read More »
Do I need a lawyer if I am injured in an accident?
Following an accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation from the at fault party’s insurer without an attorney if you do a bit of research on how the insurance claim process works. However, sometimes you may require the skills of an experienced personal injury attorney particularly if you are seriously injured… Read More »
Injured at an Iowa Business
Anyone who has shopped at some of the nation’s massive home improvement stores may have experienced a near miss from falling objects when trying to retrieve merchandise from the towering shelves packed with items ranging from construction supplies to landscaping materials. Even workers at these stores are sometimes injured stocking or retrieving merchandise whether from… Read More »
Workplace Repetitive Stress Injury Increasing
The business landscape of computers and smart phones has resulted in an increase in the number of employees succumbing to wrist and hand tendinitis. Sometimes the numbness and pain employees experience after typing into their computers or phones over a long period of time can be an early sign of carpal tunnel syndrome or nerve… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Independent Medical Exams
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 »