Truck drivers feel drowsier since new rules went into effect limiting their hours behind the wheel, according to a study by a trucking industry research group. The American Transportation Research Institute found that about two-thirds of drivers said their fatigue levels had increased since the new hours-of-service rules became effective in July.

The research institute surveyed more than 2,300 commercial truck drivers and 400 motor carriers about the impact of the rules implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The trucking industry opposed the new rules, which safety advocates hoped would reduce injuries from truck accidents caused by fatigued driving.

Among the rules is a requirement that truck drivers take a half-hour break during the first eight hours on duty. Many truck drivers reported that their workdays became longer because of this requirement. It also increased the time needed to drive to a particular destination.

More than half of the truck drivers in the survey said other rest requirements force them onto the roads during rush hour, creating a safety concern. More than 82% of the commercial truck drivers surveyed said the rules have negatively impacted their quality of life, and 66% reported that they now suffer from higher levels of fatigue. Approximately 67% said that they had suffered a decrease in pay since the rules went into effect.

Steps to Reduce Driver Fatigue

Truck driver fatigue is a serious workplace safety problem for truckers. However, truck drivers can take steps to reduce drowsiness at the wheel.

Here are five tips for staying alert while driving:

1. Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in fat, and avoid greasy foods and fast food that may make you drowsy.
2. Maintain a healthy weight. Fatigue can be the result of excess weight, and many truck drivers suffer from obesity. A weight control program that helps drivers reach an ideal weight can help reduce drowsiness. Obesity also can contribute to sleep apnea, which also increases the risk of drowsiness while driving. Sleep apnea involves respiratory interruptions during sleep, making a person may feel sleepy the next day.
3. Drink caffeine to temporarily keep sleep away, but do not depend entirely on it to drive for long periods of time. Prolonged use of caffeine can actually interfere with sleep and increase anxiety.
4. Stop smoking. Smoking has been linked to conditions that cause fatigue.
5. Avoid taking drugs that claim to help you stay alert. Many truck drivers take methamphetamines and other drugs to stay awake, but such drug use can be counterproductive and increase accident risks.

Temporary workers are some of the most disadvantaged members of the American workforce. They may be at severe risk of being hurt on the job and unaware of their legal rights after an injury. A coalition of worker safety groups recently issued a list of recommendations to improve health and safety conditions for temporary workers.

The coalition presented its recommendations to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Temporary workers are a fact of life in the workforce, particularly in labor-intensive industries such as construction and manufacturing. Temp workers are frequently hired for agricultural and related work. They may not be protected by workers’ compensation laws, which means that when they are injured, they have little legal protection.

Advocacy groups, including the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, recommend that OSHA establish clear responsibilities for both host employers and temporary staffing agencies to ensure compliance with federal safety regulations. That includes better compliance with training rules, provision of personal protection equipment, hazard control measures, and record-keeping of injury and illnesses for temporary workers.

Other recommendations include educating workers about their rights and starting a national emphasis program to focus on high-risk industries that use temp workers.

The recommendations focus on the critical role played by temporary staffing agencies that place temp workers in jobs. The advocacy groups urge OSHA to identify the largest temporary staffing agencies in high-risk industries like construction, warehousing, healthcare and manufacturing and to establish a database of repeat offenders.

The recommendations also call for better oversight of temporary staffing agencies and for OSHA investigations of workplace injuries to determine whether each staffing agency provided proper training in hazard mitigation and kept all required records.

Currently, only limited information is available about the activities of temporary workers and the procedures followed by staffing agencies responsible for their placement. The recommendations may help to clarify the rules for temp agencies and equip OSHA to better protect temporary workers from unsafe workplaces.

Despite sophisticated industrial safety technology, many workers every year are injured in accidents while using the ladder. Falls in the workplace injure thousands of people each year, and many occur while workers are using ladders.

Causes of Ladder Accidents

A major cause of ladder accidents in the workplace is misjudgment of the ladder angle. If the worker sets the ladder too steeply, it can fall back during use, causing the worker to tumble off. Or, if the angle is too small, the bottom of the ladder can slide out, causing a potentially serious fall.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently released a mobile app to help workers judge the angle correctly. The correct angle for setting a ladder is 75.5°, and any variations can increase the risk of a fall. The app is available in English and Spanish and is available for free download on iPhone, iPad, and Android-powered devices.

Workers who frequently use ladders, as well as their employers, will find the app very useful. An injury also can occur if a worker slips on the rungs of the ladder, climbs the ladder while carrying objects, or overreaches or touches electrical wires. In some cases, accidents occur because ladders are in poor condition.

Ways to Prevent Ladder Injuries

A worker who falls can suffer fractures, broken ribs, dislocations, contusions, and even brain and spinal-cord injuries, which can have long-term consequences. These injuries are entirely preventable, often by proper worker training and precautions. To reduce the risk of a ladder accident and fall:

• Make sure that the area is barricaded before you get on the ladder, to avoid the possibility that other workers may walk into the ladder when it is in use.
• Walk up the ladder carefully, holding on to the rungs, and maintain three points of contact on the ladder at all times.
• Avoid walking up a ladder holding objects in your arm. Use your tool belt, or hoist materials to get around this problem.
• Wear sturdy, comfortable boots with slip-resistant soles while climbing a ladder. Avoid climbing a ladder while wearing wet, muddy shoes.
• Inspect overhead for all electrical lines before setting up a ladder.
• Place the ladder on dry terrain that has high traction and not on a slippery surface.
• Set the ladder angle correctly.

Most people who suffer from high levels of lead in their blood were exposed to the toxic substance at work, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The construction, manufacturing and mining industries account for most occupational exposure to lead.

The data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention indicate that federal safety agencies need to focus on reducing this risk.

Researchers analyzed cases from the agency’s Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance Program between 2002 and 2011. Approximately 11,536 adults were diagnosed as having very high blood lead levels. High blood level is a concentration that is greater or equal to 40 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. Of these cases, approximately 7,076 were linked to occupational exposure to high quantities of lead at work.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention considers a level to be elevated if it is greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.

More than half of the cases of occupational exposure were linked to the manufacturing industry, with battery manufacturing, nonferrous metal production processing, foundries and fabricated metal products manufacturing heading the list.

Within the construction sector, painters and wall covering contactors, workers in bridge construction and site progression contractors accounted for the highest number of cases.

Other workers at high risk for exposure included those in remediation services, amusement and recreational industries, automotive repair and maintenance, mining, renovation, remodeling and painting.

Exposure to lead is dangerous because of the resulting health problems. High levels of lead in the blood are linked to decreased renal function, a higher risk for hypertension and tremors. There also may be effects on reproductive health. Persistently high lead levels can result in lower sperm counts, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, neurocognitive problems and anemia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms from short-term exposure to lead include abdominal pain, frequent tiredness, headaches, irritability, loss of appetite, memory loss, weakness and pain or tingling in the extremities. A person who is exposed to lead for a prolonged period of time may also suffer from depression, distraction, disorientation and forgetfulness.

Workers can reduce their exposure by changing their clothes and shoes after being in an environment containing high quantities of lead or using lead-based products. Changing clothes and shoes reduces the chances workers will face continued exposure at home to lead on their clothes and shoes.

Workplaces where employees use lead-based products should be well ventilated, and workers should receive personal protection equipment to prevent direct contact with lead. Employers should conduct frequent testing to measure blood lead levels for workers.

The CDC encourages workers who are concerned about lead exposure on the job to request a free work environment assessment.

• Falls: Responsible for 278 deaths
• Being struck by an object: Responsible for 78 deaths
• Electrocutions: Responsible for 66 deaths
• Being caught in between objects: Responsible for 13 deaths

As you can see, the number of falls that resulted in death are more than the others in the “Fatal Four” category combined. Fall hazards are the most common OSHA violations. It’s a serious issue and one that can often be prevented simply by taking the time to make sure that OSHA requirements are being followed. Providing personal fall restraint systems for workers at heights of 6 feet or more, installing guardrails or cover holes, reducing clutter and debris, illuminating workplaces and marking spaces that are hazardous can prevent these types of accidents. Sadly, many construction companies simply don’t abide by OSHA regulations. When employers fail to provide required safety equipment for workers, they should be held accountable.

Who’s Liable When You Suffer an Injury?

Georgia workers’ compensation law generally prevents injured workers from suing their employers or co-workers. However, determining whether liability can be assigned to a third party is an important aspect of a personal injury case, as it may be a viable option. Possible defendants in these types of cases might include:

• Construction companies. Construction companies might be at fault if they fail to provide safety equipment or perform safety inspections on the equipment provided.
• Contractors / subcontractors. Contractors and subcontractors might be at fault if they fail to inform laborers of on-site dangers.
• Manufacturers / material suppliers. Manufacturers and material suppliers might be held responsible for injuries caused by a variety of defective products, such as power tools, cranes, hoists, conveyers, ladders, winches, trucks, scaffolding, graters, woodworking tools, scrapers, derricks, tractors, boilers, bulldozers, forklifts, pressure vessels and gas detectors.

The bottom line is that construction companies, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers and material suppliers in Georgia have a duty to make sure that construction sites, equipment, tools or materials are safe. When they don’t, and an injury or death occurs, it’s always in your best interests to contact an experienced attorney who can review your situation so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your family.

Icy, snowy and freezing weather raise the chances of injuries to workers – and not only from traffic accidents.

Slips and falls are among the most severe work-related hazards during the winter. These hazards are present just about anywhere, and you don’t have to be working outside to suffer a slip-and -fall accident.

A slip-and-fall hazard can exist in a parking lot or sidewalk that is covered with snow or ice. Slips and falls also can occur just inside a building’s entrance, where people may have tracked in snow and ice. To prevent this, put nonskid rugs inside doorways. Place warning signs around wet areas.

Severe weather can also raise the risk of cold stress, hypothermia and frostbite, particularly for workers in areas that do not have adequate heating or insulation. People who must work in such conditions should dress warmly. First aid kits, hand warmers and blankets should be available for all workers.

Workers who are assigned to shovel snow run the risk of back and musculoskeletal injuries. Workers who are shoveling snow should take breaks, perform light stretching exercises before shoveling, and use shovels that reduce the need to bend steeply or frequently. Employers must keep in mind that shoveling is a strenuous activity and can increase cardiovascular stress.

Workers also need to be trained properly to use snow-blowing machines; unfamiliarity with these devices can increase the risk of finger amputations and lacerations. Use safety shields and safety guards for protection while using snow blowers.

Employers need to take hanging weather conditions into account and help employees prepare for. It’s a good idea for employers to implement training programs to educate workers about the specific risks that they will be facing in winter.

Falls are among the leading causes of workplace injuries in Georgia. Some of the most devastating falls involve tumbles from roofs and skylights.

A fall from a roof, skylight or any elevation can easily injure the head, brain or spinal cord. Such a catastrophe can have a severe impact on a person’s ability to return to the job, or even perform any kind of kind of work again, particularly when there is no complete cure for the injury.

Falls are usually preventable. Personal safety gear, worker training and other strategies can help reduce such accidents. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends a combination of worker training, regular and effective use of personal restraint systems, and adequate oversight and supervision to prevent falls.

Sometimes falls occur when skylights are left open without adequate warning to workers. Supervisors should make sure that warning signs are posted around these openings to caution workers. For added safety, workers should cover a hole before leaving the area.

Even when a skylight has been covered, the covering may not be strong enough to support a person’s weight. For that reason, workers should not sit or lean on a skylight.

Employers must not only provide workers with fall protection gear and restraint systems but also ensure that workers know how to use them properly. Workers must use a personal fall restraint system when they are more than 6 feet above a lower level.

Personal fall arrest systems should be inspected every day for any signs of damage or deficiency. Defective system should not be used, and any damage should be reported immediately to a supervisor.

American workers face a wide range of hazards that can lead to accidents in the workplace. Often such accidents are entirely preventable through strong safety policies, worker training, and use of protective gear.

The U.S. Labor Department is partner with workplace accident attorneys, and various labor forces, to help accumulate information about workplace safety accidents in order to reduce the risks. The department has announced plans to create the first ever database of workplace safety information, which would be comprehensive and publicly accessible.

Some hazards can be found in almost every workplace in the United States. The following hazards, for instance, are present in almost every industry and contribute to many workplace injuries and fatalities every year:

1. Fall Accidents – Falls are the number one cause of workplace injuries in the United States. Falls are especially likely in certain industries, such as construction, but workers in just about any industry may be at risk of a fall that leaves them with long-term disability (read more about the types of long term disabilities) or injuries.
2. Electrical Hazards – Workers in many industries, including construction and manufacturing, are at risk of electrical injuries or electrocution. Many such injuries or deaths occur because workers lack safe electrical tools and equipment or because of defective equipment, faulty installation, damaged wiring and other malfunctioning components. Frequent maintenance of tools and equipment and training of workers to avoid electrical hazards can help mitigate most of these risks.
3. Fires and Explosions – Fires can occur as a result of improper storage and handling of flammable materials and gases or electrical malfunctioning. Fires and explosions occur far more often than many realize and not just in the oil and gas refinery industry. The Georgia sugar refinery blast of 2008 that killed several workers is an example. In this case, sugar dust accumulated and ignited, causing a massive explosion and blaze.
4. Repetitive Stress – Musculoskeletal injuries are a leading cause of disability among workers. These injuries occur when workers perform the same tasks repetitively for long periods of time. Some of the most common repetitive stress injuries are hand and wrist injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder injuries, neck injuries and back injuries.
5. Toxic Exposure – Workers in a variety of industries are exposed to chemicals and fumes, not realizing that exposure to even small quantities could be dangerous. In other cases, prolonged exposure puts workers at risk of occupational diseases. For instance, toxic exposure to benzene could place a worker at a higher risk of several types of cancer.

Source:

• WSJ.com

Toxic synthetic chemicals that were heavily used in building materials a few decades ago continue to create a large risk for various construction workers breathing illnesses. According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the risk of occupational illness exists when workers come into contact with building materials that contain polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.

According to a white paper released by the American Industrial Hygiene Association, these synthetic chemicals were used mainly in grout, caulking, expansion joint material and paint manufactured between 1950 and 1978. The health effects from exposure to PCBs have been well documented. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have extensively researched and documented the impact on human health from exposure to PCBs.

Some of those workplace health problems include reproductive damage and cancer. PCBs are also believed to cause hepatitis, liver enlargement, increased liver enzymes, tumors of the liver, fatty lesions and other conditions. PCB exposure is also associated with enlargement of the thyroid gland in a condition called goiter.

There have been calls for protection of workers who may be exposed to PCBs and for more research into the long-term health effects, common modes of contact or exposure to these chemicals and ways to limit exposure.

Most workplace exposure to PCBs occurs either through inhalation or touching of the chemicals.

Source:

• American Industrial Hygiene Association

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a launched construction safety initiative targeting Hispanic workers. The federal agency conducted a program for Hispanic construction workers in Georgia earlier this year, and it is currently focusing on Hispanic workers elsewhere in the country.

Recently, OSHA announced that it would partner with the Consulate General of Mexico in New Orleans in an initiative aimed at protecting Mexican construction workers in Louisiana.

The agreement calls for developing and delivering Spanish-language training materials and outreach on hazards in the workplace. These materials will warn workers about fall hazards, heat illness, toxic exposure, electrocution hazards, and injuries from being struck by objects or caught in between objects.

The federal agency has formed similar alliances in other states to provide training materials to workers in a language they are comfortable with.

Language barriers are some of the most underestimated workplace hazards. If workers are not able to understand instructions, they are less able to perform a task responsibly and safely. In fact, language and communication barriers are among the reasons Hispanic workers are at a higher risk of workplace injury than their English-speaking counterparts.

Investing in a safe workplace environment may help a company’s financial performance, a new study suggests. The study found that companies that minimize the risk of work accidents have healthier bottom lines.

The study was conducted by the employee healthcare company HealthNEXT and published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The researchers concluded that investing in workplace safety correlates with higher company profits.

Companies that have been recognized for outstanding approaches to health and safety in the workplace actually outperformed the S&P 500, the researchers said.

They found that winners of the American College of Occupational Medicine’s Corporate Health Achievement Award had excess annual returns varying between 3.03% and 5.27%.

A healthier workplace keeps workers safe, reduces the number of lost days due to work injuries, and boosts worker morale. Ultimately it may also give a business a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Manufacturing workers may one day slip into an exoskeleton to help them lift objects safely, researchers in the European Union say. They are developing a robotic exoskeleton device that workers can wear to prevent injuries from lifting.

The researchers hope to create a device that is easy to maneuver, wearable and intelligent. The device would help workers perform repetitive lifting tasks, which frequently contribute to musculoskeletal injuries.

Musculoskeletal injuries are linked to thousands of workers’ compensation claims filed every year.

The Robo-Mate project, with 11 European partners, aims to prevent the kind of injuries that are normally associated with lifting activities.

Such activities take place in assembling and dismantling operations common in the automotive and food-processing industries. Even though these activities have been automated to a large extent, many manual tasks continue to place workers at risk of injuries.

The device could boost workplace production, because safer lifting activities would increase work efficiency and reduce the number of workdays lost due to injuries.

Source:

• Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering

Workplace fatalities across the United States dropped in 2012 from the previous year, according to recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the number of construction deaths is on the increase.

Across the country, 4,883 workers died in job accidents in 2012, down from 4,693 in the 2011.

However, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the number of construction-related fatalities increased. The rate of construction fatalities went from 9.1 per 100,000 workers in 2011 to 9.5 in 2012. The number of private-sector construction workers killed rose from 738 in 2011 to 775 in 2012.

Other sectors also reported increased fatalities. For instance, deaths in the oil and gas construction and extraction industry increased a reported 23% in 2012. There were 138 fatalities in the sector, which is believed to be a record for the industry.

Oil and gas extraction is currently enjoying a boom, thanks to a focus on domestic drilling and local production. As the industry continues to expand, however, it is becoming clear that this growth is occurring at the cost of worker safety.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• EHS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 200,000 people in the United States currently live with spinal injuries. These injuries can cause varying degrees of paralysis, loss of sensation and the inability to perform routine activities or even return to work.

Spinal injuries are not only among the most catastrophic type of workplace injury but also among the most expensive. There is no permanent long-term cure for spinal injury. A worker who suffers a spinal injury may need extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain some movement and sensation in their limbs.

On construction worksites, some common causes of spinal injuries are slip and fall accidents. These injuries may also occur when a worker is struck by flying debris or falling objects.

Construction workers who have suffered a spinal injury will be interested in the results of new research finding that treadmill training soon after spinal injury, and when levels of inflammation are at their lowest, could be effective in helping regain walking abilities.

The research was conducted on mice that had suffered spinal injuries and had low levels of an enzyme that is responsible for the regulation of pain. These mice had very low levels of inflammation, and therefore the treadmill training was more beneficial. The injured rats were able to walk about without support after the treadmill training.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned. Contact us for a free review of your claim.

Source:

• Medical Express

A recent study in New Zealand finds that illiterate workers are not able to fill out hazard reports because they don’t understand their employers’ health and safety policies. The findings may resonate with workplaces in Georgia where many foreign workers lack the language skills to fill out reports and understand job safety policies and instructions.

The study involved 466 employees of 23 New Zealand businesses, including manufacturing, hospitality and warehousing. Of the employees, 60% did not understand their employers’ safety and health documents.

The researchers noted that many of the documents contained very complicated language or fine print. Many of the workers lacked the literacy skills to comprehend them.

The researchers wanted to understand how lack of literacy prevented workers from filling out hazard reports. They asked 206 employees to complete a hazard report based on a scenario. Only 20% of the workers managed to understand and complete the form. Of the remaining 80%, half were able to provide some useful information in the report but left out important details. As many as 19% of the workers were unable to finish the form or provide important information.

There are lessons for Georgia employers in this study. Hazard reports and other job-related forms must be easy to understand and designed to take employees’ limited literacy into account.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• Workbase

Employees at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores across the country may soon have safer workplace conditions. A recent agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor requires Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to improve workplace conditions in all of its 2,857 stores.

The settlement comes in resolution of two workplace safety inspection cases. In 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Wal-Mart after it found 24 repeated serious violations of workplace safety at the Wal-Mart in Rochester, N.Y.

An inspection found fall hazards, obstructions at exit routes, an unguarded grinder, lack of training for employees in using personal protection equipment, absence of lockout/tag out procedures, lack of facial and eye protection gear for workers, and lack of information and training on the storage and management of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. OSHA imposed fines of $365,000. However, Wal-Mart has now agreed to settle for $190,000.

OSHA had found similar violations between 2008 and 2010 at other stores, including the Wal-Mart in Rincon, Ga.

Under the settlement, Wal-Mart has agreed to make sure the trash compacters remain locked when not in use, improve its hazard communications training and establish procedures to ensure that employees do not come into contact with undiluted cleaning chemicals. The company will also establish effective protocols that will be triggered when there is any malfunction of the store’s cleaning chemical dispensing equipment.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned. Contact us to learn about your legal options.

Source:

• EHS Today

Teenagers are at greater risk of auto accidents than other drivers. So not surprisingly, fatal motor vehicle accidents are a risk for workers between the ages of 16 and 24.

From 2003 to 2010, motor vehicle accidents killed 843 workers ages 16-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The accidents accounted for approximately 22% of all workplace fatalities involving workers in this age category.

There are severe restrictions on teen workers under age 18 operating motor vehicles. Beginning at age 18, most drivers can be given duties that involve operating a motor vehicle. However, even at this age, some workers may lack the maturity and experience to drive safely.

Additionally, young workers may engage in risky driving behaviors that lead to accidents. For instance, younger workers are less likely to wear seatbelts and eliminate distractions while driving.

If your teenager operates a motor vehicle on a job, you must be aware that fatigue, inexperience, lack of skills, lack of judgment, failure to wear seat belts and distractions can raise the chances of an accident. Teenagers sometimes overestimate their driving skills and may be overenthusiastic about meeting an employer’s expectations.

Parents should evaluate a child’s driving skills and inquire whether a job comes with driving training.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, forklift accidents killed 90 U.S. workers in 2011.

Operator training plays a major role in keeping workers from being injured in forklift accidents. Operating a forklift differs from operating other types of vehicles. While most motor vehicles have four points of suspension, forklifts have only three, which makes them more susceptible to tipping over.

OSHA regulations prohibit workers under age 18 from operating forklifts. Forklift operators also must be properly trained and authorized. Workers must be trained not only to operate the forklift but also to perform a complete pre-shift inspection to ensure the safety of the forklift. Very often, however, employers allow workers to operate forklifts without proper training.

Lack of communication between forklift operators and other construction workers is a common cause of accidents involving forklifts running over workers who are on foot.

Operators should look twice before backing up a forklift, and other workers must steer clear of areas where forklifts are being operated. Operators must also avoid distractions and risky maneuvers, such as taking a forklift up a steep incline.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Lower back pain is a common occupational condition, with thousands of workers suffering this condition after injuries or repetitive stress on the job. According to a new analysis, short-term low back pain may become chronic and even lead to long-term disability.

The results of the analysis were published in The Journal of Pain. The analysis included 488 people who suffered from low back pain and were monitored for five years through questionnaires.

The researchers found that those who reported high pain levels initially had a 12% higher risk of suffering pain six months later. They also ran a higher risk of suffering pain five years later.

The study also found that many patients are able to predict long-term pain in the early stages of the painful condition itself. Patients who believed that their pain would persist were at a high risk of pain at six months into the study and 6% higher risk of pain five years into the study.

The study also seems to confirm the importance of getting the right pain relief treatment and management therapy in the early stages of lower back pain.

Continuous repetitive activity, fatigue and poor body position can increase the risk of back pain. Sometimes the pain may be a result of a fall or a sudden unexpected movement in the workplace. Applying ergonomic principles can greatly reduce the risk of lower back pain after a back injury in the workplace.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer, representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• • • Health Day

The role of gender in the safety of construction work has not been investigated in depth. After all, just 9% of construction workers in the country are women. However, female construction workers face some specific workplace safety issues.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently launched a website page dedicated to the safety of female construction workers.

According to OSHA, the construction industry lost more than 2.5 million jobs in 2007-2010, and as a result, the size of the female workforce in the industry shrank substantially. Even so, approximately 800,000 construction workers are women. About 25% of them are electricians and laborers.

Women face particular safety issues when it comes to the proper positioning and fitting of personal protection equipment. OSHA cited cases in which female construction workers were issued personal protection equipment that didn’t fit properly.

The agency recommends that employers have personal protection equipment tested by female employees to ensure a proper fit. Personal protection gear like personal fall arrest systems needs to fit properly and be comfortable for extensive use. A female worker who receives ill-fitting gear is less likely to use it. This raises her risk of serious injuries in a fall accident.

Female workers also need access to appropriate hygiene facilities in the workplace. Employers must make arrangements for workers to be safe and protected at all times.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• • OSHA