Postal worker busted for workers’ comp after appearing on TV

• North Carolina postal worker Cathy Wrench Cashwell pled guilty to fraud concerning a workers’ compensation claim that she filed.
• Cashwell had claimed that a shoulder injury prevented her from lifting mail trays into trucks for the United States Postal Service and, as a result, was collecting benefits since 2005.
• Later, she appeared on the game show “The Price is Right,” where she used her whole upper body — shoulders included — to spin the show’s famous “big wheel,” twice.
• In what seems to be another brilliant move, she also posted a photo on her Facebook page that showed her riding a zipline, according to the indictment filed against her.
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Sustainability efforts can boost safety, reduce workers’ comp

• Employers and stockholders are reaping the benefits of proactive safety initiatives through reduced workers’ compensation rates and bonuses when construction projects are delivered early and on budget.
• However, these employers can ensure safety and that communities are resilient and protected against the migration of chemical spills and explosions.
• In 2024, If an organization sells a consumer product, sells its product to a publicly traded company, or does business in California or Europe, not only are sustainability efforts on the executive agenda, but regulatory reporting methods are also being debated.
• Companies should be prepared to discuss safety opportunities that exist.
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National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction scheduled for May

• OSHA is gearing up for its 11th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, scheduled for May 6-10, 2024.
• OSHA describes its Safety Stand-Down as a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety.
• The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction focuses on fall hazards and was created to reinforce the importance of fall prevention.
• To help employers prepare for this year’s event, OSHA has developed a page that answers frequently asked questions about how to conduct a Safety Stand-Down, who can participate, how to receive a certificate of participation and other information.
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Texas healthcare facilities have to adopt a workplace violence plan

• By Sept. 1, 2024, covered Texas healthcare facilities must adopt a workplace violence prevention plan and a workplace violence prevention policy in compliance with Senate Bill 240, now Chapter 331 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
• When lawmakers passed SB 240 last year, Texas joined states such as California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Washington, among others, in enacting a law to respond to workplace violence against healthcare workers.
• Currently, there is no federal law or regulation that specifically addresses workplace violence in healthcare.
• The U.S. Labor Department currently relies on its catch-all standard, the general duty clause in the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, for enforcement in instances of hazards related to workplace violence.
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