Last week, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a list of the top 10 safety violations at workplaces in the U.S.

According to the list, the most frequently committed safety violations have to do with fall protection.  OSHA revealed that last year they issued 7,139 citations involving fall protection safety.  In addition, the agency says that 260 workers died in accidents involving violations in fall protections in the U.S. in 2010.

Second on the list is scaffolding violations.  These types of violations topped last year’s list and accounted for 7,069 citations from OSHA in 2010.  Also included in this year’s list of top safety violations are respiratory protection, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, ladders, wiring, electrical, powered industrial trucks, and machine guarding violations.

If you or someone you know has been injured in the workplace and are seeking workers’ compensation, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about how we can help you.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Occupational Safety and Health Act which created with Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Before the Occupational Safety and Health Act, workers were not entitled to a safe and healthy workplace and would have to find other work if they were unsatisfied with their job’s working conditions.

President Obama recently said in an address to Congress, “what we can’t do … is let this economic crisis be used an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades.  I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety.”

40 years ago, the National Safety Council estimated that 38 workers died on the job every day.  Today, officials estimate that 12 workers die on the job every day in a workforce that is twice the size of the workforce in 1971.

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

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a Notice of Unsafe and Unhealthful Working Conditions to the U.S. Army after finding 37 workplace safety violations at Fort Bragg.

Executive Order 12196 requires federal employers to meet the same workplace health and safety standards as private employers.

Director of the OSHA Raleigh Area Office Kim Morton stated, “Civilian employees and contractors working to support our soldiers should not have to risk their own safety and health daily by being exposed to the hazards found at Fort Bragg.”

Violations included 2 repeated safety violations, 14 serious safety violations, 3 serious health violations, 17 other-than-serious health violations, and 1 other-than-serious safety violation.

Contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311 today, if you or someone you love has become ill or injured due to unsafe or unhealthful working conditions.

A report from the National Academy of Social Insurance says that the amount of people in the United States covered by workers’ compensation decreased by 4.4 percent during the economic recession.  In 2009, the number of people receiving workers’ compensation insurance decreased to 124.9 million.

The report, “Workers’ Compensation: Benefits, Coverage, and Costs, 2009,” says the recession caused the greatest decline in workers’ compensation benefits in 20 years.  However, benefits paid increased slightly from 2008 to 2009 with a .4 percent increase to $58.1 billion.

In addition, total employers’ workers’ compensation costs decreased to $73.9 billion.  The 7.6 percent decrease was the largest drop in workers’ compensation costs paid by employers in the U.S. since 1987.

To learn more about receiving workers’ compensation insurance, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 today.

Today, members of the North Carolina House of Representatives approved changes to the state’s workers’ compensation in a 106-8 vote.  The bill is scheduled to have a final vote tomorrow.

According to the legislation, workers’ compensation payments would be limited to a little less than 10 years for completely disabled workers.  In addition, the legislation would increase the maximum time that partially disabled workers are able to receive workers’ compensation.  Lastly, the bill increases death benefits.

There are some exceptions to the cap for completely disabled workers, such as workers with very severe or specific injuries.  For example, amputations or paralysis.

If you or someone you know needs assistance obtaining workers’ compensation benefits for a permanent disability, contact the Raleigh permanent disability lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311 and set up an appointment to meet with one of our attorneys today.

A bill to reform workers’ compensation laws in North Carolina, House Bill 709, is seeing opposition from many over the limitations it would put on injured workers.  Representative Dale Folwell introduced the bill yesterday and is mainly seeing support from large companies and insurance providers.

Just some of the changes the bill would make, if approved, include: cutting off benefits to workers after 9 years, eliminating a worker’s choice of doctor or medical professional, and giving employers, insurance companies, and their attorneys access to a worker’s medical records.

Currently, the bill is believed to be using biased research and statistics.  Findings used as evidence in support of the bill are said to have been obtained from a non-random sampling of 16 states picked by the bill’s backers.

If you have questions about obtaining workers’ compensation in Raleigh, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about how we can help you.

Earlier this month, a technician working at the Progress Engery plant in Wilmington, North Carolina was killed in a tragic explosion at the coal-fired plant.  Progress’ Sutton plant has 3 coal-fired units that produce 600 megawatts of electricity.

According to officials, the explosion occurred at around 9 A.M. at a generator that had been shut down for maintenance.  The plant explosion did not cause a fire and did not endanger the public.

State and federal officials are investigating what caused the explosion that left 24-year old Cory Rogers dead.

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