For construction workers, electricity is among the top four causes of workplace accidents. Yet, you do not have to be on a construction site to be at risk from an electrical accident. Almost every Ohio workplace has electricity cables running through its site. You could be sitting in your office chair and suffer an accident due to someone else's carelessness.
Office workers could still be at risk for injury
Many work-related injuries are the result of accidents that involve heavy equipment, tools, manual labor and more. You may assume that since you do not work in a dangerous environment that your risk of getting hurt on the job is slim. In reality, even office workers can suffer painful injuries that may require medical care and extensive time off.
Offices come with their own hazards. If you work at a desk or in an office of some type, you would be wise to understand the risks you face every time you go to work. While you may not work with machinery or have a high-risk job, you could still find yourself in a place where you need to file a workers' compensation claim. Every type of employee in Ohio should know how to stay safe at work and what to do in the event of an accident.
Can you cure a mental illness?
When you get diagnosed with many physical issues, from disease to an injury, you know that there is a cure. It may take time. It may be expensive. You may have some lingering issues. But there are often things that doctors can do to cure you and get your life back on track.
With mental illness, though, the same is not always true. The doctor can make a diagnosis and tell you what options you have, but they may not be able to guarantee that you'll reach a point where you feel cured. This may be something that stays with you for the rest of your life.
Truckers face more injury and illness risks than road accidents
Commercial vehicle operators in Ohio haul cargo across state lines. They are at significant risk of suffering work-related injuries and illnesses, often while they are very far from home, familiar doctors and their employers. If you are one of the thousands of big rig operators in Ohio, you could be a perfect example of a driver living with chronic pain, although you have a clean crash record.
Your occupation's nature requires you to sit behind your truck's steering wheel for long hours, living on a poor diet and minimal exercise. Combining all the hazards you face makes your job one of the most dangerous in the country.
New legislation could reopen previously denied workers' comp claims
For an injured worker, Ohio's workers' compensation system can feel unfair. In recent years, tens of thousands of state fund claims have been filed annually. A significant number of these claims ultimately wind up disallowed or dismissed.
Historically, one of the more common reasons for denial of temporary total disability (TTD) benefits has been voluntary abandonment. A new law, however, opens the door for some injured workers - denied due to voluntary abandonment - to potentially reapply for benefits.
What determines if an amputated body part can be reattached?
Accidental amputations can happen in a split second for those working with power tools, heavy machinery and in many other settings. They are rare, as far as injuries are concerned, but very serious.
In some cases, the body part that was amputated can be reattached. It is important to act quickly, however, and seek proper medical care right away. Every minute that passes makes reattachment less likely.
Do women have a more difficult time securing disability benefits?
Disability benefits are for those who are unable to work because of a medical issue, such as a mental disorder, physical injury or illness. If the state of your health keeps you from going to work and earning enough income to support yourself, you could be eligible for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. In the past, more men than women received Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
If you are an Ohio woman applying for disability benefits, it may interest you to learn about the application process and whether you are at a disadvantage because of your gender. While the SSA cannot discriminate in the decision-making process because of gender, the number of male disability recipients greatly outnumbered female applicants for decades. The application process can be complex and frustrating, but you do not have to navigate it alone.
Understanding the real scope of a trench collapse
People sometimes do not take trench collapse issues as seriously as they should, often because the issue doesn't seem quite as dangerous as it really is. Common misconceptions are that the trench seems stable enough, that the workers could get out if they noticed an issue and that other workers who are watching nearby would be able to rescue anyone who got buried if a collapse did happen.
All of these beliefs are wrong. No one should ever assume that a trench, even a small one, is stable. They need to use caution and safety equipment to ensure that it is, and no one should ever work in the trench if the conditions are questionable.
Creating a culture of safety on construction sites
Construction companies know that employees face certain risks on job sites. This type of work is complex and physically demanding, and there are often many people doing many different tasks all at the same time. It can be risky to work in this type of job, and the possibility of injury is high. Safety should be a main priority on every type of jobsite.
One way that Ohio employers can reduce the chance of accidents is to create a culture of safety with every team on every type of site. In addition to the regulations and standards put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are additional steps that can improve safety and increase awareness on jobsites. It is the responsibility of each Ohio site manager and employer to provide employees the opportunity to work in an environment that is as safe as reasonably possible.
How dangerous is wood dust?
Workers who are exposed to wood dust would be wise to wear dust masks at all times. When cutting studs for wall framing, for instance, each cut may not feel like it's that harmful. Over time, though, the air near the saw becomes filled with wood dust that workers will inhale with every breath.
This is even more problematic in enclosed spaces. For example, cabinet markers may work in a woodshop, not the open-air venue of a construction site. This means that the dust can saturate that air and have nowhere to go, making it easier to breathe dust even when doing smaller jobs.
