Construction jobsites can be extremely chaotic places, with many different groups of workers present at one time. With so much constantly happening, accidents are an all-too-common occurrence. The industry is heavily regulated in an effort to prevent these accidents and improve safety for everyone present. Unfortunately, when a construction accident occurs, it can often lead… Read more
On-the-job illnesses are often thought of as being less severe than on-the-job injuries. However, certain illnesses can be serious enough to be life-threatening. When this happens, it can be necessary for a worker to need very expensive medical care to treat the illness. The employer responsible for subjecting the worker to these conditions may be… Read more
We trust that our employers are doing everything they can to keep our workplaces safe. If there is anything that can cause us harm or injury, we expect that we will be notified of the dangers. Employers are required to follow rules and regulations that will be specifically targeted toward a particular industry. Failure to… Read more
In the case Vaugh v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Carrara Steel Erectors), the court decided that an employer’s job-offer letter does not have to explicitly state the activities to be performed upon returning to work, if a capability chart is attached. However, the work-capability chart must provide assurances that the work is within the necessary… Read more
The economy has changed the way many employers do business. When the number of employees is reduced due to budget cuts or downsizing, companies can be forced to do more with less. When important tasks are to be performed, employees are often required to work overtime to make sure the project is completed on time…. Read more
Recently, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and at least one member of the Pennsylvania legislature submitted proposals for reform to the Department of Labor and Industry to “improve the quality of care and curtail waste and abuse in the current [workers’ compensation] system.” While veiling itself as an attack on systemic waste, in reality, the… Read more
Social media websites make it easier for us to share the details of our lives with others. We can send information to a large amount of people with just one click. We can post pictures of important or noteworthy events. While most of these photos are just a simply way to share memories, some postings… Read more
In the case, Pike v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Veseley Brothers Moving), the Commonwealth Court decided that Act 57 eliminates the option of using substantially higher earnings when calculating an injured employee’s average weekly wage. More importantly if the evidence does not demonstrate that the higher earnings are indicative of future earnings, the lesser earnings… Read more
Construction workers are all too familiar with a dangerous work environment. Jobsites have a lot of different types of workers performing tasks in several places at the same time. It would be impossible to be able to watch everything that is happening, so workers have to trust that others are using proper safety techniques and… Read more
During these difficult economic times, it has been a challenge for many people to find work. Unemployment rates remain high, and those who do have a job are doing everything they can to stay employed. Workers and employers know that there are people ready and willing to do the job if an employee’s performance begins… Read more
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