Hazards common to cleanup and recovery work can include illness from exposure to contaminated water or food, downed electrical wires, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards from generators, slip and fall hazards, being caught in unprotected excavations or confined spaces, burns, lacerations, back and neck injuries, exposure to hazardous materials, and being injured by traffic or heavy equipment.

Workers and employers participating in storm or tornado recovery efforts can call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA to speak with representatives in their areas who offer on-site assistance. Fact sheets, quick cards and other educational materials on workplace safety and personal protective equipment are available on the agency’s Tornado Recovery Web page at http://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/tornado/index.html.

While tornadoes are almost unheard of in Washington State, we have our fair share of heavy storms each winter, and many Washington workers find themselves in harm’s way during the recovery efforts. If you are suffering from a work injury, need help recovering your workers compensation benefits from the Department of Labor and Industries, or want to appeal a denied L&I claim, contact an Employment attorney at Emery Reddy today. Our experienced L&I Attorneys and Seattle Workers Compensation Lawyers  can also help workers who have been required to complete an independent medical exam, or who have other difficulties with their L&I claim.

Last month the private sector added 216,000 jobs, according to the ADP National Employment Report. This exceeded economists’ predictions for a gain of 208,000.  “After two years of expansion without much gain in employment, we’re finally hitting the point where firms need to begin adding people in order to meet increased orders,” said Steve Blitz, senior economist at ITG Investment Research in New York. “There are still risks ahead, but if you could just stop the clock right where we are now, you’ve got a recovery that is gathering some momentum; it appears to be self-reinforcing.”

The Federal Reserve watches unit labor costs closely for signs of inflation, and noted that these rose at an annual rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter, revised sharply up from the 1.2% pace reported Labor Department last month. Third-quarter wage growth increased to a 3.9% pace from the previously reported drop of 2.1%.

Workers received more promising news than they’ve seen in some time: hourly earnings (adjusted for inflation) rose at a 2.8% rate in the fourth quarter, revised from the previously reported increase of 1.0%. This marked the most substantial gain since the second quarter of 2010.

Wednesday’s data also revealed that consumer credit expanded sharply in January for the 5^th consecutive month as Americans borrowed money to purchase cars and pay for education.  However, separate reports on housing suggested that this sector remained in a slump. Home prices fell another percent in January, the sixth straight month of declines as sales of distressed properties took a toll.

Despite the promising trends, many American continue to suffer from unemployment or underemployment. There have also been a number of troubling stories in recent news regarding wrongful termination, denied L&I claims, unsound practices during the independent medical exam, and other difficulties that workers face in navigating the Department of Labor and Industries. If you need expert help to appeal a rejected L&I claim or recover your full workers compensation benefits from Washington’s L&I, contact a Seattle Employment attorney or an L&I Lawyer at Emery Reddy.

Visit OSHA’s Winter Storms Web page.

During winter months, employees who work in snow storms experience increased rates of injuries, as shown by increased L&I claims during these extreme conditions. OSHA’s new online tool offers tips and guidelines for how Washington employers and workers engaged in clean-up and recovery operations can identify hazards inherent in snow storm conditions, and take necessary steps to ensure worker safety while carrying out their jobs in wintry conditions. The webpage includes best practices and directions for workers whose activities may lead them to clear heavy snow around workplaces or from rooftops; encounter downed power lines; travel on slick or icy roads; or restore power after storms.

Hazards related to work in winter storm conditions include:

• Workers being struck by falling objects (icicles, tree limbs, utility poles, etc)
• Vehicle accidents on icy roadways
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Dehydration, hypothermia or frostbite
• Exhaustion from overexertion
• Back injuries – or even heart attacks – while removing snow
• Slips & falls on slippery walkways
• Electrocution from downed power lines and objects in contact with them
• Burns from fires caused by energized line contact or equipment failure
• Falls from rooftop snow removal, or while working on aerial lifts or ladders
• Roof collapse under excess snow weight
• Injuries from improperly operated chain saws and power tools, or from improperly attempting to clear jams in snow blowers

In response to these winter hazards and the work-related injuries that often occur in such condition, OSHA details the most effective measures for minimizing winter storm hazards. These include:

• Approaching all power lines as if they were energized, and staying completely clear of downed or damaged power lines
• Ensuring all powered equipment is properly guarded and disconnected from power sources before cleaning or performing maintenance
• Using extremely caution on and around surfaces that are weighed down by snow or ice
• Shoveling only moderate to small amounts of snow at a time, and using appropriate lifting form to avoid back injuries
• Keeping walking surfaces clear of snow and ice; use salt where appropriate
• Employers should provide and ensure the use of fall protection measures, and maintain ladders in good working condition
• Remaining in one’s vehicle in the case of roadway emergency. Occupants should not leave a vehicle unless help is visible within 100 yards
• Wearing reflective uniforms or clothing, as well as face and body protection
• Clearly marking work zones
• Using engineering controls, personal protective equipment and safe work practices to minimize the length of exposure to cold.

The new Winter Storms Web page provides links to OSHA guidelines, as well as advice from Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Safety Council and other relevant organizations.

As OSHA explains on its website: “Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.”

Lauren Eason, an Arkansas woman receiving workers compensation for a knee injury, requested a change of physicians in 2011, at which time she transferred to the care of Dr. Harold Chakales. Under Arkansas law, a worker can only change physicians once; so when Dr. Chakales passed away in December, the Workers’ Compensation Commission sent Eason a letter notifying her that they “cannot approve another change in this claim. We are constrained by the law.”

“We’re just kind of in workers’ comp limbo,” Eason said.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission,  Alan McClain, the case presents some sticky legal challenges and administrative impediments, but McClain remained hopeful that the case could be resolved before long. “There seems to be maybe at least some to getting that order entered,” McClain told a reported. “But practically speaking [Eason] should be able to see a doctor really soon and we can facilitate that communication … it could take six months. But that’s the long end of it. It would probably be closer to three months.”

Workers Compensation commentators were quick to weigh in on the situation: “Surely the state can do better for these people than a nightmarish 3 to 6 month administrative wait,” said Robert Wilson. “I certainly do understand that the law is the law, but I also recognize common sense is common sense.”

Eason’s attorney pointed out that the problem is not just isolated to his client noting that more than 100 injured workers are in a similar state of limbo due to rules restricting a change of physician request.

McClain did note the Arkansas State House has been looking into changing the existing law regarding injured workers’ ability to change their physicans: but ironically, rather than loosening restrictions, they have been considering a complete ban on claimants changing physicians at all.

Whether these rules go into effect remains to be seen.  In the meanwhile, Eason will have to endure her knee injury, as her old phsician will not be returning to the office before this case gets resolved.

Washington’s new Stay at Work program is open to employers who pay workers’ compensation premiums to L&I. The program partially reimburses those businesses for the cost of returning employees with a work injury to light-duty jobs before they have medical clearance to return to their primary positions.

While the program was just launched yesterday, the legislation that produced it went into effect in June of 2011.  L&I claim managers anticipate that thousands of reimbursement requests from businesses who’ve already been offering light-duty jobs to employees with work-related injury during the period since the legislation passed.

The new program is one of a number of historic workers’ compensation reforms to come out of the 2011 Washington legislative session. These reforms are intended to lower costs and improve the recovery rates for workers with on-the-job injuries.

“The Stay at Work program gives us a unique opportunity to give Washington businesses an active role in their injured workers’ recoveries and return to productive employment,” said L&I Assistant Director for Insurance Services, Beth Dupre. “Most important, we have a much better chance of helping injured workers stay on salary and in the game while they recover under their doctor’s care.”

Employers participating in the Stay at Work program help injured workers by creating light-duty or “transitional” jobs that adhere to physician’s recommendations and medical restrictions. Some workers will need to undergo an Independent Medical Examination as part of this process. During the prescribed recovery time, the injured worker earns wages from the employer rather than receiving time-loss compensation from L&I.  For example, a worker with a construction site injury might take an inventory job while recovering from a back injury. Then through the Stay at Work program, L&I reimburses the employer for half of the worker’s base wage, plus some additional expenses (not to exceed $10,000 per L&I claim).

The program has already proved effective in Oregon, showing a tendency to speed recovery time and reduce long-term disability for a given workers compensation injury.  Medical studies indicate that many workers recovering from an injury are less likely to suffer from long-term disability when they remain active and engaged.

“This is a win-win for our employers,” Dupre said.  “It’s a strategy that will help their businesses and workers, and it won’t negatively impact their premium costs.”

If you need help with your L&I injury claim, contact a Seattle L&I Attorney.

“Work-related disability is a major public health problem that’s largely overlooked in the U.S.,” Dr. Franklin of L&I said. “This study shows that using occupational health best practices when treating injured workers can have an important effect on their recovery.”

In 2008, L&I began to collaborate with physicians in both Washington and throughout the U.S., University of Washington medical researchers, and business leaders and labor advocates to assess best practices for helping workers recover during the first 12 weeks following a work-related injury. L&I’s Centers of Occupational Health and Education (COHE) were the direct outcome of this project; these organizations function as community-based centers that promote the most effective procedures and treatments of injured workers.

Specifically, these practices emphasize the safe, healthful recovering of injured workers and their return to full capacity and employment in the workplace. Such “best practices” include quickly filing a workers’ compensation claim with L&I, directly contacting the employer to discuss the worker’s ability to resume their job (or some lighter tasks in the workplace), and frequently evaluating a worker’s ability to perform tasks and activities at work.

L&I provides monetary incentives and administrative support to COHE healthcare providers to help them put injured workers back to work as soon as possible. Health services coordinators are central to the success of this process: these individuals work with COHEs and report to healthcare delivery teams, supporting community-wide integration of medical care.

This undertaking, and the enhanced integration of care by way of best practices and incentives, has emerged as an early prototype of what many imagine could be a more “accountable-care” concept within national health care reform.

The study involved seven workers compensation researchers from L&I, the Ohio State University’s College of Public Health, and the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Together, this team examined and evaluated 105,000 + workers’ compensation claims from 2001 to 2007, including both COHE and non-COHE-related claims.  Findings show that injured workers who received treatment from healthcare providers following COHE best practices had 20% fewer “disability days” compared to other injured workers receiving treatment, as well as a $510 drop in total medical and disability costs per claim. One of the most promising figures related to back strain: workers with back injuries showed a 30% drop in disability days. In his report, Dr. Franklin stated: “We’re especially encouraged that the outcomes for workers with low-back strain were significantly better. Lower-back strain is a costly and common disabling condition in workers’ compensation.”

At the moment, four COHE sites work with 2,000 providers and hundreds of workplaces, providing treatment to nearly one-third of injured workers in Washington. Figures from the study brought about new legislation this year that will make COHEs more accessible, expanding access to all injured workers in Washington by 2015.

Governor Rick Snyder pressed ahead in late May with his effort to trim State costs.  Among the many moves to downsize State bureaucracies and streamline government services and efficiency was the creation of the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission.

According to Compnewsnetwork, “Gov. Snyder issued Executive Order 2011-6, which transfers the authorities and responsibilities of the Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission and the Employment Security Board of Review to the new Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission.”

“With this reorganization, Michigan becomes a model of efficiency for appellate decisions in these two case areas,” Snyder said. “It provides greater flexibility in addressing fluctuating caseload levels and variations.”

The Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission will now consider appeals of decisions issued by magistrates and administrative law examiners, specifically in the realm of unemployment and workers’ compensation claims.

The most important, and perhaps most troubling, part of the creation of this new Commission, is that it takes on the workload that was previously performed by two separate Commissions: The Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission and the Employment Security Board of Review. Although our economy is slowly recovering, what is striking about this consolidation of Commissions is that it does not seem to acknowledge the massive increase in unemployment and workers’ compensation claims the recession has engendered.

Further, while the Executive Order issued by the Governor requires that the new appellate commissioners be evaluated under defined standards to ensure that appeals are handled in a timely, knowledgeable and appropriate manner, the Order also requires that the commissioners adhere to productivity and timeliness standards.  In short, the effort here is to move claims and reviews through the Commission quickly, and as such, the important scrutiny that each individual injured worker’s claim should receive might be compromised.

Every experienced Washington workers compensation attorney is watching these developments across the country to ensure that injured workers in this state will continue to receive all the protections afforded to them by constantly evolving Labor & Industries law. Injured workers should first seek medical attention, then seek out the advice of an experienced L & I attorney at Emery Reddy as they pursue their claim.

In the wake of their acts of bravery, labor advocates began to ask important questions about these nuclear workers’ access to health care and workers’ compensation benefits should they suffer any ill effects from their important work.  After all, a startling “88 percent” of Japanese nuclear workers are contract workers with uncertain access to benefits, according to the NYTimes.com.

The New York Times noted these workers are “emblematic of Japan’s two-tiered work force, with an elite class of highly paid employees at top companies and a subclass of laborers who work for less pay, have less security and receive fewer benefits.”  The Times reports that the medical care and benefits for these workers tends to dwindle as you work your way down the ladder from contracted worker, to subcontracted, to even sub-subcontracted.  Essentially “nuclear migrants,” these workers attempt to conceal injuries or exposure to radiation so they can retain their employment.

As the United States re-evaluates its own nuclear power industry, the spotlight has shifted to how the U.S. treats those workers who are asked to put themselves in jeopardy in what is essentially a work situation.  Just today, Scientific American reports that the U.S. nuclear safety regulator is investigating how three nuclear workers in Nebraska were exposed to radiation in a workplace setting in early April. Scientific American writes, “The three workers triggered radiation alarms by incorrectly moving a radioactive tube on April 3. They immediately set the tube down and fled the area.  Nebraska Public Power District, which operates the Cooper Nuclear Station, does not believe the workers were exposed to radiation above regulatory limits, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a release.”  There is no word if these workers were subcontractors or full-time employees.

Of course, if the United States suffered a disaster so severe that it forced not only nuclear workers, but emergency workers to enter extreme environments to save lives, the most obvious, and unfortunate parallel is 9/11.  Chris Bragg wrote as late as 2007 that “many cleanup workers who rushed to help the city in its time of need say they have developed serious physical conditions due to that work: 756 cleanup volunteers and many more paid workers have submitted claims. Many claimants say, however, the Workers’ Compensation Board has been slow in helping them get back on their feet.”  Workers employed by the city, such as firefighters and police officers, go through a tailored compensation process.  But contract workers are at the mercy of the city’s Workers’ Compensation Board, and literally hundreds of articles over the years have detailed their struggle.

Labor & Industries experts will continue to watch the drama unfolding in Japan with an eye to how workers in the U.S. would be treated in similar circumstances.  If anything, the situation reveals the need for greater protection of subcontracted workers of all stripes, especially in terms of workers’ compensation, before a disaster happens and workers must rush into the unknown.  If you have been injured and have questions about your employment status as it relates to workers’ compensation, contact an expert Washington Labor & Industries Attorney.

Oklahoma Senate Bill 878 purports to be a comprehensive approach to workers’ compensation reform.  Brian Bingman, R-Salupa said, “We are committed to reducing Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation rates and making our state more competitive for job creation in every way.  This bill is progress towards a goal of making Oklahoma more competitive economically with surrounding states.”

The provisions of the Bill include mandating a judge to render a decision within 60 days, mandatory annual reviews of disability recipients, placing more authority in the hands of medical experts when reviewing claims, and encouraging early return to work as a form of rehabilitation.

Critics are skeptical of bill’s true intent.  Barbara Hoberock reports that the bill could limit injured workers’ access to medical treatment. It ties rates of compensation for doctors treating injured workers to 120 percent of Medicare. She quotes Dr. William Gillock, who practices occupational medicine in Tulsa. “We are concerned it would eliminate access to care and affect the quality of care we can provide,” he said.  The primary concern is that the reduction of compensation would make it difficult for doctors to refer their patients to specialists who charge higher raters.

Another measure passed by the Oklahoma Senate is aimed at limiting the amount workers’ compensation lawyers can be paid to represent injured workers.  Critics like Senate Minority Leader Charles Laster argue that the resolution would force injured worker’s to stand alone against the well-funded legal teams representing insurance companies.  Although supporters argue the measure would motivate workers’ compensation lawyers to work harder on behalf of their clients to obtain larger compensation, another possible outcome is reluctance to take cases in the first place.

The Washington State legislature is also pushing major changes in workers’ compensation benefits under the banner of reducing costs to the State.  While Governor Chris Gregoire’s proposal to push workers back into “light duty” while still recovering from injuries and to offer buy-outs to injured workers does not go as far the Oklahoma measures, it does reflect the national trend to push injured workers back into the workplace perhaps before they are ready.  The Seattle Times reports the “idea is to reconnect the worker with his boss, co-workers and paycheck, instead of having him sit at home on state benefit.”  One should note that the Times’ description of a worker sitting “at home” reflects an ugly prejudice in the mass media and by politicians against the plight of the injured worker.  As anyone who has suffered a workplace injury will tell you, recovery is a physically and emotionally exhausting process.

Labor and Industries laws continue to change across the nation.  Injured workers should consult with a Washington Workers Compensation Lawyer to ensure they receive the full protection of the law.

Denise Frisino’s troubles with toxic mold began in 2000 when she acquired a respiratory illness in response to chemical toxins present at Hamilton International Middle School. The illness made her sensitive to a range of airborne toxins, from mold to other irritants.  After attempts to clean up the toxic environment at the school failed, Frisino was forced to go on medical leave in April 2004 and agreed to be transferred to Nathan Hale High School the following school year.

According to court documents, the extent to which Seattle Public Schools has failed to address widespread mold and toxin problems became clear when Frisino entered her new classroom at Hale.  She “immediately note[d] visible mold as well as blackened and missing ceiling tiles.”  Frisino discussed her concerns with Hale Principal Lisa Hechtman.  In September and October, a private firm, Clayton Group Services, as well as the Seattle/King Country Department of Health investigated and “reported no active mold growth in the building.”  Although they reported “the total fungal structure concentrations inside the hale building were lower than those found outdoors,” the District still performed some minimal remediation on the classroom.  On November 21, the issue came to a head when Frisino experienced a respiratory emergency in the classroom requiring a visit to the emergency room.

Michelle Esteban of KOMO News reported on November 29, 2004 on photos of mold that a Nathan Hale parent provided.  Esteban notes, “Some of the ceiling tiles are peeled away and, underneath, a black mold.”  The article also described Frisino’s reaction as “severe–everything from a hacking cough, swollen nose, ringing ears and now respiratory complications.”

Frisino was not the only person put in jeopardy by the continuing mold problem at Nathan Hale.  Seattlepi.com reported on December 7, 2004 that Jennifer Aspelund pulled her son out of Nathan Hale because of the threat the mold posed.  Her son, North Aspelund Jr., was “diagnosed with leukemia at age 4, relapsed four years later, then endured a bone marrow transplant and the removal of a cancerous kidney.”  After detecting a an odd smell in the library, officials confirmed an “area above a northeast stairwell contain[ed] Stachybotrys atra, a greenish-black mold.” His mother noted they never would have enrolled North in Hale had they been aware of the mold problem.

Meanwhile, Frisino was earnestly negotiating with the District to accommodate her disability.  According to court documents, the District hired Superior Colt to remove visible mold from Classroom 216.  The remediation project was completed in December and the District demanded Frisino return to work on January 3, 2005.  Thus began a flurry of communication between Frisino and the District, with the District claiming the environmental remediation was “appropriate” and Frisino’s doctors repeating she was “advised to remain away from her current workplace or be transferred to a more accommodating environment.”  The District terminated Frisino on June 1, claiming she failed to return to work.

Frisino’s original lawsuit alleged the District failed to provide a reasonable accommodation as required by the Washington Law Against Discrimination, and engaged in employment discrimination and retaliatory discharge.  The trial court dismissed her claim in favor of the District.

Yesterday Frisino’s claim was given new life by the Washington State Court of Appeals when she was granted a new trial.  Among other irregularities, the court noted the District attempted to apply an “objective measure” to her illness and questioned whether the District reasonably accommodated Frisino. Most importantly, in the last month many of the key players working for the School District have been terminated for misuse of District funds and poor leadership after being swept up in the Seattle Public Schools Scandal.

Since the case was dismissed in 2009, Nathan Hale has been completely renovated.

The Appeals Court’s granting of a trial is an important victory for injured workers whose employers violate their rights by refusing to accommodate a disability or terminate in retaliation.  There is a Washington L & I attorney at Emery Reddy  that has the expertise to protect your rights.  Stay tuned as this case continues to unfold…