When the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 became law, it ushered in a new era of protection for workers. The Act initiated a federal program that studied work-related accidents and held business accountable for workplace safety. By April 1971, the regulatory agency we know as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had… Read more
Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in America, with more fatal injuries occurring in this industry than any other in the private sector. This unfortunate fact was recently highlighted in an accident in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, when two workers fell through a roof at The Hill School, killing one and hospitalizing the other. The… Read more
It is a common and unfortunate reality that many working people complain about being mistreated by a coworker or boss at one point or another in their careers. For many, this mistreatment is most likely an isolated incident or the result of a misunderstanding, but for some, it may be part of the phenomenon of… Read more
Two men who suffered significant burns over much of their bodies won a $12.7 million award from a Pennsylvania jury. The injuries were the result of a metal furnace exploding, showering both men with 3,000 degree Fahrenheit molten metal, an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Rudolph Paci, 45, suffered burns over 65 percent of… Read more
The workers’ compensation system ensures that employees injured on the job have access to medical care and financial support throughout the recovery process. This is an important and effective system, but ultimately it is an imperfect solution for a significant problem – workplace injuries. From the perspective of everyone involved in the system, it is… Read more
David Griffiths went to work one August morning in 2000 just as millions of Americans do every day. While on the job that day, however, he suffered a catastrophic injury that left him a C-5 quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair for life. Thereafter, he underwent a four-month hospital stay and many follow-up medical appointments. He… Read more
In 2006, Kathleen Moberg applied for employment at Twining Village and was told as a condition of employment that she was required to undergo a tuberculin test. After applying, she reported to the facility’s outpatient room for the test. Moberg suffered an adverse reaction to the test and fell to the floor. She sought workers’… Read more
In Pennsylvania, workers generally must be unable to perform any type of work to receive total disability benefits, which also are referred to as “wage loss benefits.” Once the worker returns to employment, then the employer may petition for a modification or termination of the worker’s total disability benefits. Until recently, there was a question… Read more
The Pennsylvania Bar Association will hold the 26th Annual Workers’ Compensation Fall Section Meeting at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center on October 21-22, 2010. This year Martin LLC will have two senior attorney representatives speaking on a variety of topics. George Martin will review recent case topics, Matthew Wilson will analyze the course and… Read more
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