GAO says meat, poultry worker injuries underreported
Workers in the meat industry in Oklahoma and throughout the country might be facing injury at higher rates than are being officially reported, according to the Government Accountability Office. While injuries are down overall, the GAO identified a number of factors that may be keeping those rates underreported. One is that meat and poultry workers […]
Statistics backs idea that some jobs are deadlier than others
People may not be surprised to learn that certain industries are more hazardous than others. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in May 2016 makes it clearer which modern careers are actually the most dangerous. For Oklahoma workers, this data could provide some insights into the kinds of jobs and workplace factors that contribute […]
Some employers will have to publish individual data
Oklahoma residents may soon be able to look up their employers or prospective employers to see the number and types of injuries and illnesses employees have experienced. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has finalized a rule that will require employers to make that information public in a searchable database. The database will be comprised […]
Avoiding workplace injuries
Each year, many Oklahoma residents are injured while they are working at their jobs. People can be injured at work while performing a variety of different tasks. Even things that might seem innocuous can lead to workplace injuries. Workers and their employers should take steps to minimize the risk of them occurring. According to the […]
Good work boots are important
Having good footwear can help with protecting Oklahoma workers in a variety of occupations from being injured on the job. When employers are considering the kind of work boots they should supply or ask their employees to purchase, they should take steps to make certain they are choosing brands that meet federal and state safety […]
Deaths related to workplace injury increase
Regardless of the emphasis government agencies and employers place on eliminating conditions that could cause a workplace accident, workers in Oklahoma and in other parts of the country remain at risk of suffering an on-the-job injury that could kill them. Workplace fatality figures have now been revised for 2014, and they contain some sobering information. […]
Investigating workers’ compensation fraud
Oklahoma residents may be surprised to learn that workers’ compensation fraud is thought to cost the U.S. economy more than $7 billion every year. Insurance companies examine workers’ compensation claims closely, and they generally look for warning signs such as claimants with a long history of claims, injuries that go unreported for days, a lack […]
Those who have sleep apnea more likely to be injured at work
Oklahoma companies as well as their employees may be interested to learn that people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to get hurt during work. A Canadian study has found that patients with sleep apnea were almost three times more prone than other employees to become injured due to inattentiveness or lack […]
Case shifting and workplace injuries
Each year, many Oklahoma employees suffer injuries related to their jobs or that occur in workplace accidents. According to industry insiders, some doctors will attribute injuries that are not directly traceable to a person’s employment to the workplace anyway because of the higher payment rates they can receive from workers’ compensation rather than health insurance. […]
Keeping construction cranes safe
Oklahoma construction workers may be more likely than other types of workers to consider safety issues when they see a crane in the air above a work project. However, those who don’t operate cranes might be surprised that standards for eligibility to run this type of equipment have not been established on a national scale. […]