Scudder & Hedrick

OSHA considering updating PELs

Posted on January 31st, 2012 No Comments

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Fall 2011 semi-annual regulatory agenda, the agency plans to update its PELs. The agenda was released earlier this month.

PELs, or permissible exposure limits, are limits placed on the amount of time a person can spend exposed to a chemical without harm. Most PELs were created in 1971 and have not been updated since.

The agenda states that OSHA is creating a Request for Information that will ask the public to help them determine new and effective ways to limit chemical exposure in the workplace and to address issues created by this exposure.

To learn more about obtaining workers’ compensation for any occupational injuries or illnesses you or a loved one has experienced, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311 today.

N.C. workplace fatalities increase in 2011

Posted on January 24th, 2012 No Comments

This month, the North Carolina Department of Labor reported that workplace fatalities in the state increased in 2011. In 2010, 50 people died in on-the-job accidents in North Carolina, and 53 died in workplace accidents last year.

Construction accidents accounted for more fatalities than accidents in any other area of work, with 16 deaths in 2011. 10 people died in accidents related to work in forestry, agriculture, and fishing; 6 of the fatalities were in public utility and transportation accidents; 5 government workers died on the job; and 3 died in manufacturing accidents.

Other industries that experienced fatal accidents in North Carolina in 2011 were the wholesale and retail trade and service industries. Fatalities occurred in 33 of the state’s 100 counties, with the most in Wake County.

Department of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry stated, “The real tragedy is that all of these fatalities could have been avoided by having proper safety and health training, which we provide free of charge.”

Raleigh construction wrongful death attorneys, Raleigh construction wrongful death lawyers Raleigh construction wrongful death attorneys, Raleigh construction wrongful death lawyers

Raleigh named 18th most tolerant city in the U.S.

Posted on January 17th, 2012 No Comments

In honor of Martin Luther King Day yesterday, The Daily Beast released their list of the top 20 most tolerant cities in the United States. Raleigh ranked 18th on the list.

Cities with populations of more than 250,000 were included in the study. Hate crimes, attitudes on same-sex marriage and religion, statistics on anti-discrimination laws, and racial diversity were taken into consideration when ranking the cities.

According to the study, Raleigh had .02 hate crimes per 100,000 residents in 2010, and 5 same-sex couples per every 100,000 households in the city.

Another North Carolina city ranked first on the list. Durham, North Carolina was found to have .04 hate crimes per 100,000 residents, and 8.3 same-sex couples per every 100,000 households. In addition, Durham had greater religious and racial diversity than other cities.

The Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC are proud to be a part of an upstanding community.

Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers Raleigh Worker's Compensation Attorneys, Raleigh Worker's Compensation Lawyers

Appeals court awards workers’ comp benefits to widow

Posted on January 10th, 2012 No Comments

Last month, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a decision to award $550 a week in workers’ compensation to the widow of a US Airways Inc. employee who suffered a lower-back injury.

The woman’s husband was injured in 2000 while lifting luggage as an employee of US Airways. Four years later, a doctor prescribed the worker methadone to treat ongoing back pain. A buildup of methadone in the man’s system was found to have contributed to his death.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission awarded workers’ compensation to the US Airways worker’s wife, but the ruling was appealed by the airline. The airline claimed that the man’s death was caused by fatty liver disease, which prevented his body from being able to metabolize the methadone he was taking.

The doctor who prescribed the medication testified that the worker did not abuse the medication. The appellate court ruled that “the toxic build-up of methadone prescribed to manage [the worker's] pain resulting from a compensable injury to a reasonable degree contributed to his death,” and awarded the worker’s wife benefits.

Raleigh workers' compensation attorney, Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers Raleigh Worker's Compensation Attorneys, Raleigh Worker's Compensation Lawyers

Workers’ comp suit against Jay-Z dropped

Posted on January 6th, 2012 No Comments

Last week the Workers’ Compensation Board of New York announced that its lawsuit against rapper Jay-Z, 42, will be dropped.

Jay-Z was originally sued for $18,000 after the board claimed he did not pay workers’ compensation for his domestic employees for three months in 2009. The singer adamantly denied the allegations, blaming the confusion on a clerical error.

Although the New York Supreme Court ordered Jay-Z to pay for his outstanding fines, his lawyers were able to prove that the $18,000 balance was indeed a clerical mistake. People close to Jay-Z have stated that he has never missed a workers’ compensation payment. A spokesperson from the board says it will drop the lawsuit.

If you need assistance with an injury or disability claim, contact the Raleigh workman’s compensation lawyers Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311.

Raleigh workers' compensation attorney, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer

Jay-Z sued for workers’ compensation

Posted on December 30th, 2011 No Comments

Rapper Jay-Z is being sued the the Workers Compensation Board of New York for not paying three months worth of workers’ compensation insurance in 2009.

The lawsuit claims that Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, owes $18,000 for the three months of nonpayment. The workers’ compensation covered domestic employees of Carter, including chefs, cooks, maids, and drivers. His lapse was only temporary as the 42 year-old musician has continued to pay workers’ compensation except for the outstanding $18,000.

Carter has responded to the lawsuit, claiming that it is a clerical error and denies he has ever failed to pay his employees workers’ compensation.

If you have been injured on the job, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311 today.

Raleigh workers' compensation attorney, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer Raleigh workers' compensation attorney, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer

OSHA investigating fumes at elementary school

Posted on December 21st, 2011 No Comments

State officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are currently investigating reports of fumes at an elementary school.

According to officials, maintenance crews were trying to unclog a sewer line that was backed up and were using a solvent to do so, but this allegedly did not work.

he next day, teachers claimed that they smelled a strong odor throughout the school. Workers then used fans and opened all of the school’s windows in order to alleviate the smell. Teachers then started to complain that they were feeling ill and some experienced respiratory illnesses.

If you or a loved one has been injured or become ill at work, you need experienced representation on your side. Contact the Raleigh workplace injury lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PPLC by calling 919-851-3311.

Raleigh workplace injury attorneys, Raleigh workplace injury lawyers Raleigh workplace injury attorneys, Raleigh workplace injury lawyers

Officials investigating fatal cotton gin accident

Posted on December 13th, 2011 No Comments

Two weeks ago, a man who was working as a forklift operator at Jones County Cotton Gin to raise money for Christmas was injured in a workplace accident at the cotton gin. The 62-year old worker passed away later that day from the traumatic injuries he suffered in the accident.

Emergency crews found the man conscious and lying on the ground surrounded by cotton bales that appeared to have fallen. The bales weigh several hundreds of pounds each.

There were no witnesses to the accident. Investigators with the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division, Jones County Cotton Gin, and the company’s insurance company are looking into what caused the fatal accident.

Our utmost sympathies go out to the victim’s family and friends.

http://www.scudderandhedrick.net/practice-areas/workers-compensation/workplace-injuries/

Raleigh workplace injury attorneys, Raleigh workplace injury lawyers Raleigh workplace injury attorneys, Raleigh workplace injury lawyers

Pullen Park reopens just in time for the holidays

Posted on December 6th, 2011 No Comments

Pullen Park in Raleigh recently reopened in time for the holidays. The park closed in December 2009 and was opened again on November 19.

During the first week the park was open last month, visitors purchased more than 66,000 tickets for rides on trains, boats, and a carousel at the park. The park’s restaurant, Pullen Place cafe, made some changes before reopening by altering their menu to include locally-grown ingredients and healthier meal options.

This Thursday, the park will begin its 4-day long 2011 Holiday Express event. Through today, tickets can be purchased online for $7. From Wednesday on, tickets will be $10 and must be purchased at the park’s welcome center. Kids under the age of 2 are admitted to the park for free.

The city of Raleigh and the Crabtree Rotary Club are presenting the event, which will feature music, arts and crafts, carousel rides, and train rides. The park’s train will be decorated with $15,000 worth of lights for the event. Activities will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season.

Raleigh workers' compensation attorney, Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer Raleigh Worker's Compensation Attorneys, Raleigh Worker's Compensation Lawyers

18-year old construction worker killed in back hoe accident

Posted on November 30th, 2011 No Comments

This past Saturday, an 18-year old construction worker from North Carolina was killed in a tragic accident involving a back hoe.

The accident occurred at a building site for the Giordana Velodrome professional cycling track in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The teen was employed by Kempf Contracting.

Paramedics arrived at the scene of the accident at about 10:45 a.m. and transported the man to Piedmont Medical Center. The construction worker passed away at the hospital.

A safety director with Kempf Contracting and the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the fatal construction accident. Investigations typically take between 6 and 8 weeks.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends.