Georgia Workers’ Compensation Blog

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Highway transportation accidents are a major cause of job-related fatalities —and workers age of 65 and older may be at the greatest risk of dying in transportation accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a fatality rate of 3.1 per 100,000 full-time workers over 65. The fatality rate for those ages 55-64 was…

Musculoskeletal injuries are a major hazard in the American workplace. They typically occur because of repetitive stress or cumulative trauma. These injuries cost the workers’ compensation system hundreds of millions of dollars every year, although they are entirely preventable. Employers can play a key role in reducing musculoskeletal injuries by remaining mindful of the risks…