Nebraska wants to expand coverage after tragedies
- Recent shootings at a Target store and restaurant in Nebraska have prompted calls for a change in what workers’ compensation insurance will cover.
- State Sen. Carol Blood issued a bill that would expand workers comp coverage for mental injuries and mental illness resulting from workplace violence or terrorism.
- Workers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental injuries could get workers comp coverage for treatment.
- PTSD is now recognized as a major disability impacting thousands of workers across the nation, Blood said.
Proving workers comp in the workplace
- Employers are responsible for workers’ compensation for injuries in the workplace but questions are often asked about where the accident occurred.
- The injured workers should create a record with a manager proving that the injury happened when they were at the workplace.
- Include pictures of any damaged property, the injury, and other environmental factors that lead to the injury.
- It’s vital to seek medical care as soon as possible because waiting to meet a doctor can have an adverse impact on the claim.
Firefighters face bigger cancer risks
- Researchers want to understand and prevent firefighters’ risk of cancer and plan to do more research on the issue.
- Firefighters face a higher risk of cancer than the general public because of exposure to smoke, hazardous chemicals, and hazardous substances in fire settings.
- Nearly 75% of the names added to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial last year died from job-related cancer, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.
- U.S. firefighters are encouraged to enroll in a registry via a secure web portal to help with the research.
Company in trouble after worker loses leg
- A 27-year-old worker suffered a partial amputation of his right leg when a paddle conveyor was left running when he and two other employees entered a soybean bin for cleaning.
- Topflight Grain Cooperative in Illinois violated grain-handling safety regulations that require powered devices to be de-energized before workers enter bins.
- OSHA found that the three employees were working over three unguarded holes in the bin which were above the conveyer when the incident occurred.
- The agency has proposed penalties of $629,946.