This week, President Obama issued an order asking federal workplace agencies to improve their workplace safety standards in order to reduce the number of claims by federal employees and the amount of federal money spent on workers’ compensation claims.

The order asks that in four years agencies will have cut the number of employee injuries and illness incurred on the job, as well as the amount of time spent to review a claim.  ”Many of these work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and executive departments and agencies can and should do even more to improve workplace safety and health, reduce the financial burden of injury on taxpayers, and relieve unnecessary suffering by workers and their families,” stated Obama.

In 2009, 79,000 new claims were filed by federal employees and over $1.6 billion was spent by the federal government on workers’ compensation.

If you or someone you know has been injured or become ill on the job, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about your rights.