Posted on October 9th, 2009
In an effort to identify and correct under-recordedworkplace injuries the Occupational Safety & Health Administration hasissued a new National Emphasis Program establishing enforcement procedures toinspect the accuracy of occupational injury and illness recording and reportingrequirements.
This NEP compliments the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ effortto investigate factors accounting for differences in the number of workplaceinjuries and illnesses estimated by the BLS.
Several studies have been released recently demonstratingvarious degrees of under-recording of workplace injuries and illnesses on theOSHA Form 300. OSHA believes the most likely places where under-recordedinjuries and illnesses may exist would be low rate establishments operating inhistorically high rate industries.
If you have been injured in the workplace, please contactthe Raleigh Workers’ Compensation Lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at919-851-3311.
Posted on September 29th, 2009
New research from theNational Employment Law Project found that very few employees who earn around$8 an hour filed a workers’ compensation claim and received benefits for awork-related injury.
In addition to theworkers’ comp findings, the study also shows that a large number of low-wageworkers experienced violations of federal regulations that govern overtime pay,minimum wage and employer retaliation.
The study, called Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers, foundthat 12 percent of the subjects experienced a serious work-related injuryduring the last three years. “We found that the workers’ compensation system isvery rarely used by our respondents,” the study said. “Only 8 percent of theworkers in our sample who experienced a serious injury during the previousthree years had filed a workers’ compensation claim for their most recentinjury. This finding clearly indicates that the workers’ compensation system isnot functioning as intended for front-line workers in the low-wage labormarket.”
If you need helpobtaining workers’ compensation, please contact the Raleigh Workers’Compensation Lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on September 25th, 2009
A federal Census Bureau employee was found dead and tied to a tree with the words "fed" scrawled across his chest.
A full investigation into the workers death is currently going on. State police and the FBI are working together in an attempt to discover the individual or individuals responsible for the workers death. Investigators are asking anyone with any information into the workers death to come forward.
Some fear that this may be the beginning of a series of events in which federal workers and officials may be targeted as many people are beginning to take extremist anti-government views.
If you need help obtaining workers' compensation, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on September 18th, 2009
A construction worker was recently killed in an accident. According to reports, a piece of heavy equipment crushed the worker. Details of the accident have not yet been fully released as authorities and company officials are conducting an investigation as well as are contacting the immediate family of the worker who lost his life.
When the accident occurred, other workers rushed to the man's aid and removed the equipment. Emergency officials were called to the scene and pronounced the man dead on arrival.
More details about the accident should be released following the outcome of the investigation.
If you need help obtaining workers' compensation, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on September 9th, 2009
In Harnett County, the workers' compensation fund is already over budget. The account is currently $13,909 in the red and the $69,100 in August claims and an estimated $160,000 in September claims have not yet been paid.
Because of this, the Harnett County Board of Commissioners has voted to take $300,000 from its own fund to cover the workers' compensation balance. Unfortunately, this might not be enough as it will get the county through September and not much farther. These types of issues can make it more difficult to get the compensation they deserve.
If you need help obtaining workers' compensation, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 13th, 2009
Michigan risk managers are concerned that their self-insured programs would face an emergency assessment to make up for a security fund shortfall should Chrysler LLC fail to meet it's obligations to the state's workers.
Chrysler filed Chapter 11 on April 30th, and there are worries that the filing could allow Chrysler to get out of paying workers' comp claims. Leigh Stepaniak, director of risk management for the Wayne County Airport Authority at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and member of the board of managers for the Michigan Self-Insurers' Association said an emergency assessment would be difficult given the current economic conditions. "We are all looking at our budgets, which are extremely tight, and we are looking at our own losses, and if they do any emergency assessment it is going to impact us." Stepaniak said.
According to the attorney general's motion, even if emergency assessments were levied, the fund's "maximum possible balance would be approximately $9 million – substantially less than needed to cover the debtor's statutory obligations."
Chrysler's workers' comp liability could possibly exceed $150 million and requires the company to expend more than $25 million annually. Officials in other states where Chrysler self-insures workers' comp liabilities are reviewing the Michigan filing to see if any action may be appropriate.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 13th, 2009
As Chrysler LLC files for bankruptcy, states are carefully monitoring the case for its possible impact on workers' compensation fund.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox stated that Michigan's Self-Insurers' Security Fund could face insolvency as a result of Chrysler's April 30th Chapter 11 filing. Michigan's workers' compensation guaranty fund for self insured employees would be exhausted if Chrysler reneges on its promise to keep paying workers' comp claims despite selling it's assets to Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A.
In other states where Chrysler self-insures its comp liabilities are also keeping a close eye on the proceedings despite assurances from Chrysler that it will continue to pay. A spokesman for the company said the automaker has court authority to keep paying workers' comp liabilities owed to injured employees across the country.
Cox filed a motion in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York which is handling the Chrysler case. The filing objected to some language in the Chrysler papers. Cox says the filings show there is potential for Chrysler and a buyer of its assets to disregard the auto manufacturer's existing workers' comp obligations.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 6th, 2009
The state of Michigan is objecting to the sales of Chrysler LLC assets to Italian automaker Fiat. The state claims that the new company won’t meet obligations to a state workers’ compensation fund.
Papers were filed in bankruptcy court in New York on Tuesday by State Attorney General Mike Cox, filing on behalf of the State of Michigan Workers’ Compensation Fund and Funds Administration.
The filing says the sales could leave Chrysler unable to make yearly $25 million payments. The state is worried that its Self-Insurers’ Security Fund could become insolvent and leave all eligible injured workers at larger companies without any benefits. Judge Arthur Gonzales said the objection could be resolved at a later date if and when he is asked to rule on a safe, final motion. The filing also states that Chrysler cannot avoid regulatory requirements that apply to all Michigan employers.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311.
Posted on April 24th, 2009
A new report says workers’ compensation pharmacy costscontinue to increase despite the steady decline of injury rates over the pastseveral years. The report comes from PMSI, a Tampa-based provider of specialtyproducts and services for the workers’ compensation market. The report showspharmacy costs increased by 5.4 percent in 2008, and 3.3 percent in 2007.
Pharmacy costs represent 14 percent of all medical spending.The 2008 increase was primarily due to average wholesale price increases aswell as reduced availability for generic versions of drugs such as Oxycontin.
The five most prescribed drug types were narcoticanalgesics, anticonvulsants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, skeletalmuscle relaxants, and antidepressants. Those five classes represented 70percent of pharmacy costs and 74 percent of total transactions in 2008.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the jobplease contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick,PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on April 24th, 2009
A Putnam man has been charged with failing to provideworkers compensation coverage for his employees. Russell Avery, 67, was chargedwith four counts of failure to carry workers compensation insurance. Failure toprovide workers comp is a felony that state authorities said is punishable byup to five years in prison for each count.
The arrest warrant affidavit states that Avery failed toprovide insurance between January 2004 and September 2008. As a result thestate was forced to pay lost wages and medical benefits to injured employees.
Civil penalties were leveled against Avery and his businessby the Workers Compensation Commission. The case will be prosecuted by theWorkers Compensation Fraud Control Bureau of the Chief State’s Attorney’soffice.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job,contact the Raleigh workers compensation lawyers of Scudder and Hedrick, PLLCby calling 919-851-3311.
