Lost In The Fine Print- Forced Arbitration
In our democracy, the courts hold out the promise of safeguarding everyone, regardless of wealth and power. But that fundamental promise of equal justice under law is facing a severe threat. Buried in everyday agreements for products, services, and jobs is fine print saying when you are harmed, you can’t go before an impartial jury […]
Employers’ responsibilities after a workplace accident
After an Oklahoma worker is injured on the job, the employer must follow certain protocol to ensure the worker’s immediate safety and avoid any further injuries. Paperwork must also subsequently be completed by the employer and submitted to its workers’ compensation insurance provider as well as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The first […]
Blue Bell and Listeria
The public recently received news of a recall of Blue Bell Ice Cream due to eight cases of Listeria poisoning that occurred in Kansas and Texas, in which three of the patients died. As a result, the company’s factory in Broken Arrow Oklahoma was closed to determine the source of the contamination. These reports have […]
OSHA requirements for employers in Oklahoma
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers in Oklahoma and around the country to provide safe working conditions for their employees as well as keeping track of injuries and reporting them. To the extent that is possible, employers must ensure that the workplaces are free of hazards, and when hazards are unavoidable, organizations must […]
Workplace heat dangers
Oklahoma workers who are required to work in hot environments and may want to be aware of the Occupational Health and Safety worksheet suggestions for monitoring and treating the effects of heat. Primarily, it should be recognized that heat can be a dangerous factor in both an inside and outside work environment. The most severe […]
Manganese exposure and welding in Oklahoma
Welding fumes contain a small concentration of manganese. Although this substance is a natural dietary nutrient that the body excretes through the liver and kidneys, the inhaled form can cause damage to a person’s lungs, kidneys, liver and central nervous system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to manganese in small […]
Excavation and trenching safety measures
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that in the decade from 2000 through 2009, there were 350 workers who died in accidents caused by trenching collapses. The majority of these deaths occurred in trenches that were less than 10 feet deep. Because a cubic yard of dirt may weigh more than 3,000 pounds, a […]
Scaffolding accident may point to bigger issues in the industry
The construction industry largely relies on Latino employees, and Oklahoma residents should be aware of the fact that Hispanic workers are disproportionately affected by accidents in the industry. Although the construction industry is becoming less deadly as a whole, Hispanics are more likely to be killed or injured than non-Hispanics. An accident that occurred on […]
Oklahoma nurses at risk in work-related accidents
It is common knowledge in the health care industry that nurses and other health care professionals experience workplace injuries at a rate much higher than other occupations. In fact, recent Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the rate of on-the-job injury in hospital orderlies is significantly higher than the rate of workplace injury for firefighters. […]
More workers injured after daylight saving time change
Oklahoma workers and employers may want to exercise caution in the days following the daylight saving time change each year. Studies have shown that the annual springtime ritual, which took place on March 8 this year, could lead to an increase in work-related injuries. In 2009, the “Journal of Applied Psychology” published a study that […]