A worker can get benefits after a fall caused by seizure
- A Louisiana appellate court ruled that a pharmacy technician can receive workers’ comp benefits after she suffered a seizure at work and fell.
- The employee, who was working at the counter as a pharmacy technician at Brookshire Grocery Co., sustained injuries to her right shoulder.
- Her workers’ compensation claim was denied following surgery and work release.
- A judge awarded her weekly temporary total disability benefits, penalties, attorney fees, and interest.
California lawmakers propose boost for polluted communities
- Calfornia Senators Lena A. Gonzalez and Senator Monique Limón want to establish buffer zones for communities potentially affected by pollution.
- Their legislation — SB 1137 — is focused on areas that could be negatively impacted by corporate oil and gas operations.
- The proposal mandates a 3,200-foot buffer zone between oil and gas wells and schools, childcare centers, residential homes, and hospitals, among others.
- The bill prohibits the California Geological Energy Management Division from approving the drilling, re-drilling, or significant alteration of any oil and gas well within this “health protection zone.”
Massachusetts gets approval to protect safety and government workers
- OSHA will allow Massachusetts to enable the state’s safety and health plan to be responsible for protecting state and local government workers.
- The Massachusetts State and Local Government Only State Plan will cover more than 430,000 employees of the state and its political subdivisions.
- Private sector and federal government employees in the state remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction.
- Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and the Virgin Islands have similar provisions.
Ohio manufacturer faces $177,000 in penalties
- A 25-year-old manufacturing worker suffered serious arm burns that required hospitalization.
- An OSHA investigation found Ohio-based International Cushioning Co. didn’t follow required federal safety standards that might have prevented the incident.
- OSHA learned the worker was injured when heated foam melted on the employee’s arm, causing second-degree burns.
- OSHA issued citations for 25 serious safety and health violations and proposed $177,950 in penalties.