Workplace heat-related illnesses increase by at least sevenfold on days when temperatures exceed 90°F compared with days with temperatures between 75°F and 80°F, according to research published Wednesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Waltham, Massachusetts-based WCRI used 2013 to 2022 workers compensation claim data from insurers, state funds and self-insured employers across 31 U.S. states, accounting for 80%…
There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from the previous year, with deaths among Black workers declining the most at 10.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Transportation incidents were the most frequent cause of death, accounting for 36.8% of all occupational fatalities in 2023. As in years past,…
Costs associated with catastrophic workplace injuries represent less that 0.1% of workers compensation claims but account for up to 2% of all costs to insurers, according to a report released Thursday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Boca Raton, Florida-based NCCI worked with nine state ratings agencies to study so-called “mega claims,” examining 11,330 of them from accident years…
For the eighth time since 2020, federal workplace safety inspectors have cited a Lake Zurich, Illinois roofing contractor for exposing workers to falls from elevation, the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries among people employed in the construction industry. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration observed employees of Fino Exterior Inc. working atop…
Federal inspectors have cited 595 Construction LLC – a Crystal Lake, Illinois contractor with a history of exposing employees to fall hazards – for eight safety violations after finding employees framing a residential structure without required protections three times at three residential worksites in the same neighborhood in May 2024. OSHA inspectors first observed 595 Construction employees at work without…
Federal inspectors have cited 595 Construction LLC – a Crystal Lake, Illinois contractor with a history of exposing employees to fall hazards – for eight safety violations after finding employees framing a residential structure without required protections three times at three residential worksites in the same neighborhood in May 2024. Falls from elevation are the leading cause of fatal and…
Falls are among the most common workplace injuries, but they are not always compensable through workers compensation, a sticking point highlighted in recent state court decisions involving unexplained or “idiopathic” falls. Falls can be triggered by work or the condition of premises, but some can be considered idiopathic and often lead to litigation with unpredictable outcomes, legal experts say, adding…
Back injuries are among the most expensive work injuries to treat among those who work in restaurants, according to a report released Tuesday by workers compensation insurer AmTrust Financial Services Inc. AmTrust reviewed 130,000 restaurant industry claims submitted between 2018 and 2023 and found that disc, vertebrae and spinal cord injuries average $60,000 to $85,000 in overall costs but amount…
Studies released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute found that utilization of medical services by injured workers has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in the majority of the 17 study states studied. The 17 individual studies, addressing the percentage of claims receiving a particular medical service and the number of services provided, show that the industry “continues to see…
Two recent state court decisions have highlighted the complexities of workplace falls and whether unexplained “idiopathic” causes can eliminate a claimant’s rights to workers compensation. Falls, among the most common types of injuries in the workplace, can be triggered by the work itself or the condition of the premises. They can also be considered idiopathic, or caused by some unknown…
