More fatal injuries across all categories

According to the report released by the BLS, 5,190 American workers died while at work in 2016. This number is 7% higher than the 2015 total of 4,836. 2016 was also the third consecutive year where fatal injuries on the job rose, and the first year since 2008 when more than 5,000 people were fatally injured in the workplace. The rate of fatal injury also rose from 3.4 to 3.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. This is the highest that the fatal injury rate has been since 2010.

Fatal injuries from violence and overdoses on the rise

Yet again, the most common cause of fatal injuries at work in 2016 was transportation incidents, which took the lives of 2,083 workers and accounted for 40% of all deaths on the job. Specifically, roadway incidents accounted for 1,252 deaths, or one in every four workplace deaths. The second-leading cause of death, however, became violence or other injuries caused by persons or animals, which took 866 lives. The number of workplace homicides increased to 500, an increase of 83 over 2015’s total, and the highest number of on-the-job homicides since 2010. Another 291 workers committed suicide at work, which is the largest-recorded number of on-the-job suicides since 1992, when this data was first reported.

Since 2012, the number of fatal overdoses on the job has increased by at least 25% each year. This year, the number of fatal overdoses linked to nonmedicinal drug or alcohol use rose by 32%, killing 217 people while at work. Other leading causes of on-the-job deaths included slips, trips, and falls, which collectively resulted in 849 deaths. The number of deaths caused by falls has risen by 25% since 2011. Workers and families of workers who are hurt on the job may have a right to compensation for medical expenses or wrongful death, and should seek the advice of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to learn about their rights after an accident.

If you’ve been hurt at work in Ohio, get the benefits and compensation you deserve by contacting a knowledgeable and seasoned Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer at the Miller Law Practice for a free consultation at 614-591-6822.

1. Overexertion involving outside sources: This injury category includes claims made for workers injured while pushing, pulling, lifting, throwing, turning, or carrying an object, whether the injury culminated from one incident or over the course of months. Twenty-three percent of workplace injuries fall under this category.
2. Falls on the same level: Any time a worker is hurt when tripping, slipping, or otherwise hitting the ground or another surface without falling from a substantial height, their injury is considered to be caused by a fall on the same level. Almost 18% of workplace injuries fall under this category.
3. Falls to a lower level: Falls from a height, such as from a ladder or scaffold, or to a below-ground location such as a shaft or trench, will be considered a fall to a lower level. Slightly over nine percent of all workplace injuries fall into this category.
4. Struck by an object or equipment: 7.4% of reported workplace injuries involve a worker being hit by an object. This could be a falling piece of equipment or building material, something dropped from overhead, or a swinging boom or other hazard. 
5. Other exertions or bodily reactions: This broad category could include injuries such as stress fractures from prolonged standing or sitting, repeated bending, eye strain from reading a computer screen or using a microscope, or other sprains, ruptures, or nerve damage. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a commonly-claimed-for injury falling under this category, as are other repetitive motion injuries. These injuries encompass 6.5% of all on-the-job injuries for which benefits are claimed. 

For skilled and effective help with an Ohio workers’ compensation claim, contact the Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

The man who was killed was a 59-year-old Barnesville man employed as part of a construction crew working along Interstate 70 near Hilliard-Rome Road in Columbus. The three right lanes of the highway were closed leading up to the job site. The crew was also protected by multiple barricades and by a Franklin County sheriff’s office cruiser that had its emergency lights activated.

The at-fault driver navigated past the cruiser, around the barricades, and around construction equipment before encountering a large pavement roller in the middle of the road. The driver swerved to the right to avoid hitting it, looked down at his phone, and when he looked back up at the road, the worker was directly in front of him. The worker was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he was eventually pronounced dead. The driver was found to have an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. Officers reported that his breath smelled strongly of alcohol, and that he confessed to having drunk several beers earlier in the evening. The man was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide while impaired, and aggravated vehicular homicide while driving recklessly in a construction zone.

When workers are injured on the job, workers’ compensation may be their only avenue for financial support while they recover from their injuries. However, when a third party—someone other than the injured worker’s employer—is responsible for the worker’s injuries, then that worker has the option of filing a claim for damages in court against that third party. In a case like this one, the worker’s family could speak with an attorney about filing a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver for causing the man’s death. In Ohio, when a drunk driver injures or kills someone while intoxicated behind the wheel, the victim or their family may even be entitled to punitive damages, or damages intended to punish the at-fault party for their careless and deadly conduct.

If you’ve been the victim of an on-the-job injury in Ohio, find out if you have a right to money damages for your injuries by contacting the knowledgeable and experienced Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

Remote workers a growing population

According to one nationwide poll, 43% of all American workers said they spent at least part of their time doing their job outside of the central office in the past year. In 2016, 31% of workers reported that they worked remotely between four and five days a week. Remote work offers employees greater flexibility in their schedules and greater availability for their families at home. It can also offer substantial cost savings to employers who no longer need to provide office space for those workers who can do their jobs entirely from a remote location.

Benefits are available, but proving claims may be challenging

While working remotely offers workers many benefits, any work comes with a risk of injury. Workers who spend hours entering data or typing still bear a risk of developing repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel. If workers must store large batches of files from home, or haul product samples in and out of their car to display for clients, there is a risk that they could suffer a strain or sprain while lifting these objects, or trip and fall over them.

Workers who get hurt while on the job and working at home still have a right to apply for workers’ compensation benefits, just as they would if they were in an office. That said, workers may have a harder time proving that they were doing work for the employer when the injury happened. The worker will need to prove that, when the injury occurred, they were in the process of performing work for compensation, and that the injury was related to a work task. Without the availability of witnesses who could support the worker’s description of how the injury happened, workers will need to provide lots of detail on how they got hurt, perhaps even taking pictures of their work space and the scene after the accident. They will also need strong medical reports from physicians that show how their injuries were caused by the on-the-job accident they described in their claim. Having an experienced Ohio workers’ compensation attorney to represent the workers in these claims can make a substantial difference in whether the claims are successful.

If you’ve been hurt on the job in Ohio, find out if you have a right to benefits for your injuries and missed work by contacting the dedicated and effective Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

Investigators hired to spy on a workers’ compensation beneficiary are looking for evidence that the employee lied about their injury altogether, or exaggerated the extent of their injury as a way of prolonging their leave. For example, if you’ve claimed that you’re unable to walk or stand for prolonged periods, investigators may try to catch you doing your grocery shopping. If you’ve claimed that you’re unable to pick up items weighing over 30 lbs, investigators may try to catch you picking up your kids while playing in a public park. Investigators do not have unlimited rights to spy on you in your home. As a general rule, if the neighbors can see what you’re doing, then an investigator can also watch you.

Investigators are more likely to try and observe you on days when your employer or insurer knows you have a medical appointment. These are days when your employer knows you’ll be leaving the house, offering the investigator an opportunity to see you move. In some cases, investigators have used footage of the employee moving normally and without assistance when leaving their home, but suddenly needing crutches or a wheelchair once they arrived at the doctor’s office. Likewise, you may be observed not wearing a brace when leaving your home over the weekend, but putting on a brace when going to restricted/light duty work during the week. These types of incidents will be used by the investigators as evidence of an inconsistency in your testimony.

The truth may be that your pain levels fluctuate, so that you need crutches or a brace at some times but not others. Or you may try to do more than you are physically able, only to regret it later. That said, even if you can offer a rational explanation for the inconsistency, it will be difficult to erase these images from the mind of an insurance carrier or judge. As a result, is important to keep appearances in mind when in the midst of a workers’ compensation claim.

If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident in Ohio and have had your workers’ compensation claim denied, or believe you’re entitled to additional damages for your injuries, contact the seasoned and knowledgeable Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation on your claim, at 614-591-6822.

Research shows risks faced by healthcare workers

The US Department of Labor conducted a study of hospital-based healthcare workers to determine their rates of injury at work. According to the 2015 study, approximately 58,000 hospital workers were hurt on the job in a single year. This accounts for 6% of all hospital workers, and a rate of injury over twice that of the average private sector employee. Hospital-based healthcare workers aren’t the only ones who are at risk of injury, however. Workers in settings such as assisted living or rehabilitation facilities are also at risk of injury.

The study found that the most common form of injury to healthcare workers stemmed from overexertion. Tasks such as moving a patient from one bed to another or from a wheelchair to a bed require a great deal of strength, and they are often performed by workers who have already been on the job for many hours. Healthcare workers who are stretched thin by understaffing, exhausted, or under time pressures may not have the chance to call for the help they need with these tasks, and become injured as a result. Additionally, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of being the victim of violence on the job, since healthcare workers often see patients who suffer from serious mental illness and drug intoxication.

Healthcare facilities must act to reduce the risk of injuries

 There are steps that medical facilities can take to reduce as much as possible the risk of injury to its employees. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has created guidelines for use by hospitals designed to reduce injuries among workers. These guidelines include suggested protocols on moving patients, as well as minimum staffing guidelines and suggestions on how to reduce the risk of violence in the workplace. By failing to implement these types of safety procedures, hospitals and healthcare facilities put their workers at unnecessary risk.

If you’ve been hurt on the job in Ohio and need help in getting the money you deserve for your injuries, contact the seasoned and effective Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

Why would an independent medical examination be requested?

The employer, insurer, or Board of Workers’ Compensation may request an independent medical examination for a number of reasons. Perhaps the employer doubts that the injuries you claimed to have received could have occurred in the accident you described, or that they would not have had the severe effect you described. Perhaps the treatment that your treating physician has recommended seems inappropriate or excessively expensive to your insurer. The Board of Workers’ Compensation may have doubts about the disability rating you’ve received from your own physician. For these and other reasons, an employer or insurer might request an independent assessment, typically provided by a physician paid by the insurer. Since the physician is selected and paid by a party with an interest in the outcome of the exam, there may be reason to doubt whether the exam is truly “independent.”

What to expect in the exam room

When you attend the examination, remember that the doctor issuing the exam is not your personal doctor. In fact, part of that doctor’s job is to determine whether you have made your claims honestly and to catch any inconsistencies in your story. That doctor has received copies of all your medical records and has had a chance to review them thoroughly. They may ask you the same question multiple times to ensure that the answer remains the same as you’ve provided previously and as you provided in your original claim. The doctor will also ask questions about how the accident occurred and how your treatment has progressed. You have no right to doctor/patient confidentiality with this person. The physician will take note of how much pain you appear to be in and whether you have a limp or some other symptom of the injury you’ve claimed.

The report created by the doctor during an independent medical exam can have a substantial impact on the value of your claim. In order to protect your right to compensation after an on-the-job injury, consult with a skilled workers’ compensation attorney if your employer is requesting that you submit to an independent medical examination.

If you’ve been hurt on the job in Ohio, get help receiving the money you deserve for your injuries by contacting the dedicated and skilled Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

Repetitive stress injuries, explained

Repetitive stress injuries, also known as repetitive motion injuries or cumulative trauma injuries, are serious injuries that develop as the result of making certain motions again and again, and by doing so, using a body part beyond its natural capabilities. Employees who work on assembly lines are particularly vulnerable to these types of injuries, as are workers who repeatedly lift, load, or move heavy items. Likewise, office workers who type for extended periods of time, or who do data entry, may also develop repetitive stress injuries. These types of movements can damage tendons, joints, and muscles that are not naturally equipped to handle such repeated use.

Aside from office workers, grocery store workers and other workers in large retail settings are at risk of developing repetitive stress injuries, due to their frequent need to bend and lift objects overhead while shelving or restocking a warehouse. Butchers also run the risk of forming repetitive stress injuries by making constant use of their hands and repeating many movements. 

Examples of repetitive stress injuries

Conditions caused by repetitive movements can include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: this is the most common repetitive stress injury for which employees seek workers’ compensation benefits. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from the median nerve being compressed due to swelling in the wrist from overuse or improper use. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs often in computer users, especially ones who have not been provided with ergonomic keyboards or workspaces. Workers who make heavy use of a computer mouse or touch screen with little opportunity for rest are especially at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Tendinitis: This condition results from inflammation of the tendons connecting muscle to bone. Victims often develop tendinitis in the elbow, wrist, and shoulder.
• Bursitis: this condition consists of inflammation of the tissues between bones, and is often developed when workers are required to sit for long periods without a break.

If you’ve been injured on the job in Ohio and need skilled help in seeking workers’ compensation benefits, contact the dedicated and effective Columbus workers’ compensation lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation at 614-591-6822.

Detailed regulations in place intended to shield workers from exposure

Since toxic exposure can cause serious injuries, chronic illness, or even death, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created detailed regulations governing how employers should control the use of toxic substances at the workplace. Whenever possible, dangerous chemicals should be substituted out for less harmful alternatives. If work must be done with harmful chemicals, those substances should remain enclosed and sequestered as much as possible. Where chemicals are exposed to the air, these workspaces should be well-ventilated. Workers should be frequently rotated off tasks that involve heavy chemical exposure.

Toxic exposure can happen to any employee

Those with jobs that require work with chemicals and hazardous materials aren’t the only ones who stand at risk for chemical exposure. Even workers with office jobs can be unwittingly exposed to dangerous fumes and toxins. Workers have filed claims for exposure based on dangerous building materials used in office spaces, as well as fumes from paints or industrial cleaning materials. Where buildings are not properly dried or ventilated after flooding damage, dangerous forms of mold can develop which can cause serious respiratory problems.

Watch out for symptoms of exposure to dangerous substances

While toxic exposure can bring on a wide array of symptoms, common signs of chemical exposure include:

• Burning eyes or lungs
• Nausea
• Difficulty breathing
• Rashes or other skin irritations, especially after contact with a substance
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeat

Legal representation can make it easier to obtain benefits

Toxic exposure claims aren’t always easy to prove. Some employers may try to argue that your exposure occurred not on the job, but at home, or that the substance you were working with is perfectly safe and your illness stems from a separate cause. For this reason, many claimants find it invaluable to hire an attorney to help them with their toxic exposure claims.

If you’ve been hurt on the job in Ohio, get help receiving the benefits you deserve for your injuries by contacting the knowledgeable and experienced Columbus workers’ compensation injury lawyers at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one in every five workplace deaths occurs on a construction site, despite the fact that construction makes up approximately only 4% of the American workforce.

Common causes of serious fall injuries include:

1. Defective or improperly-used ladders: Ladders which are not placed on a flat and sturdy surface can tip or buckle, causing a worker to fall. Additionally, workers who are not provided with a ladder that is an adequate height may be forced to use the topmost step on the ladder in order to do their job, despite the fact that ladders are not designed to be used in this way.
2.  Faulty scaffolding: Scaffolding that is improperly constructed or assembled can collapse, causing serious injury to workers. When independent contractors have constructed a job site’s scaffolding improperly, they may bear third-party liability for a worker’s injuries.
3. Absence of guardrails or other hole coverings: OSHA regulations require that workers be protected from falling into openings in a floor or deep holes in the ground through the use of protective guardrails surrounding the fall risk, or through netting placed over the opening.

There are seemingly countless opportunities for serious injury on job sites, especially where the owners or site managers are not diligent about training and equipping workers adequately to prevent injuries. Since fall injuries hold such great potential to cause fatal injuries, federal safety regulators have enacted numerous rules requiring contactors and site managers to provide fall protection and safety equipment. Despite these rules and their important function to prevent serious or fatal injury, they’re often overlooked or ignored when management comes up against time constraints or expense. Workers who are injured due to lax safety procedures could have a right to compensation for their injuries.

If you’ve been hurt on the job in Ohio, get help seeking the benefits you’re entitled to receive for your injuries including workers’ compensation and disability by contacting the dedicated and aggressive Columbus workers’ compensation attorneys at Miller Law Practice, LLC for a consultation, at 614-591-6822.