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Opioid use by injured workers reaching 'epidemic' proportions

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workplace Injuries on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Pennsylvania residents may be aware of the growing, national problem of opioid abuse. It has attracted the attention of the CDC. According to the CDC, There are nearly 40,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. annually. Statistics show that more than half of these involve prescription drugs. Opioid-related deaths currently exceed those involving heroin and cocaine combined.

Injured workers make up a significant portion of those who are prescribed opioids for pain management. Back injuries are among the most commonplace work-related injuries. Opioids are often prescribed for the pain management of back injuries.

How long to file Workers' Compensation

By Dugan & Associates, P.C of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Monday, May 20, 2013.

How long to file workers' compensation. There are many different types of time limits and different types of legal scenerios in injury law and that also holds true for work injuries. However, generally speaking, when it comes to wage loss benefits there are two basic types of calls we may get-those who need/want to get on workers' compensation wage loss benefits, and those who are on benefits and the workers' compensation insurance carrier is attempting to terminate, suspend, stop, reduce or modify there indemnity weekly or biweekly checks.

District court rejects intern lawsuit

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Industrial Accidents on Sunday, May 19, 2013.

Across the nation from Pennsylvania to California, interns are watching as the courts set a discouraging legal precedence when a federal judge determined that a group of interns for a large publishing company could not ask to be treated as regular employees after the fact. On May 8, the judge entered the ruling and added that the employees will need to file individual lawsuits against the firm.

The class-action lawsuit encompassed more than 3,000 unpaid workers who served at the company since Feb. 2006. The group of people claimed that they did similar jobs as regular employees and should have received minimum wage and overtime pay according to labor laws that protect workers from injury or in the event of wrongful death. However, the publisher countered that the interns received college credit for their work and said they offered some training and incentives to the group.

Worker illness death outranks injury

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workplace Injuries on Friday, May 17, 2013.

A new report by the AFL-CIO shows that workplace illnesses outrank workplace injuries as a cause of death by nearly 10 to 1. Pennsylvania had the lowest rate of workers injured on the job for 2011, but the number of workers who died due to illnesses or diseases contracted on the job was much higher. Fire fighters, nurses and those who work with patients are at much higher risk than the general population for contracting a deadly illness in the workplace, according to the AFL-CIO's study.

The statistics on workplace injury used by the AFL-CIO in its report come from both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both agencies compile annual reports on work-related injuries and the industries that are most affected. According to OSHA and the BLS, fishing and logging have the highest injury death rates in the country. Currently, 13 people per day die in work-related accidents. However, neither OSHA nor the BLS accounts for work-related illness deaths which the AFL-CIO estimates account for another 137 deaths per day.

Number of worker-related deaths no longer declining

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Though Pennsylvania workplaces have the lowest fatality rates, according to a report by the AFL-CIO, approximately 150 people in the United States died everyday in 2011 due to work-related injuries or illness. This amounts to the death of 13 workers due to injuries that they sustained from workplace accidents and another 137 people each day from work-related illnesses and diseases. The report indicates that even though there had been a downward trend in work-related deaths, the last three years have not seen declines.

The report provided detailed findings regarding work-related deaths. Workers who were employed in the fishing and logging industries were most susceptible to being involved in a fatal accident, compared to workers in other sectors. Fire safety and nursing jobs in the public sector corresponded with the highest number of workplace illnesses and non-fatal injuries. North Dakota's recent oil boom led to its having the highest fatality rate of all states.

Worker rushed to hospital after roadside accident

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Construction Accidents on Friday, May 10, 2013.

A worker for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was taken to the hospital after a collision with a vehicle on Fourth Street in Monongahela. The construction accident occurred when a 32-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle and hit the employee as he was working traffic control.

Police believe that the driver may have been blinded by the sun at the time of the accident. Authorities do not believe that charges will be filed against the driver. Witnesses stated that the truck was not speeding at the time of the accident, and the driver told police that the sun was shining in her eyes so that she simply did not see the flagman.

Workplace accidents responsible for more deaths than terrorists

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workplace Accidents on Saturday, May 4, 2013.

Safety in the workplace is an issue that often gets shuffled to the back burner. Despite the protest of labor advocates that the media doesn't pay enough attention to the hazardous conditions that exist in factories all over the country, public attention in Pennsylvania is commonly focused on other issues.

According to Mike Elk, a labor reporter for the Washington Post, in 2011, 4,509 Americans were killed in a workplace accident. During the same year, 17 Americans were killed by terrorists. While the deaths of thousands of workers is no less tragic than the deaths of people killed at the hands of terrorists, far less attention is given to accidents that happen in the workplace.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and workers' comp

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workplace Injuries on Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Pittsburgh employees may be interested in a new study that shows a link between various professions and carpal tunnel syndrome. The condition exhibits itself over a period of several years, and it is related to many professions such as computer workers, dental practitioners and jewelry creators.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most recognized workplace injuries, and the symptoms typically include the numbness of the hands and fingers as well as tingling, swelling, itching or burning sensations. Employees diagnosed with the syndrome may have to be exposed to prolonged treatment, including medication and surgery in severe cases.

New law threatens workers comp for firefighters

On behalf of Dugan & Associates, P.C. posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

Pennsylvania firefighters routinely put their lives on the line to keep others safe. But, the immediate risk of getting hurt in a burning building isn't the only chance of injury they face. Many firefighters are exposed to a significant amount of smoke, hazardous chemicals and other carcinogens. Some will develop cancer as a result of this exposure.