Amazon facility in Washington States faces fines

• Amazon is facing $85,800 in fines for knowingly putting workers at risk of injury at its fulfillment center in Spokane, Washington.
• Workers there filed more than 400 workers’ comp claims for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, reported L&I, which administers the state workers’ compensation insurance system over the past three years.
• A Washington State Department of Labor & Industries inspection of the e-commerce company found that Amazon requires workers to execute repetitive motions, lifting, and other physical work at such a fast pace that it puts workers at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
• Because L&I has cited Amazon for similar violations at three other Washington locations, the company is aware of these hazards.
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Montana governor announces advisory council for workers’ comp vacancy

• Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced an advisory council to assist in reviewing applicants for the vacancy for the Montana Workers’ Compensation judgeship.
• The governor began soliciting applications from and nominations of any lawyer in good standing who has the qualifications set forth by law to hold the office of district court judge.
• On July 6, the governor initiated the 30-day public comment period for the four applicants, which continued through Friday, August 4.
• During that period, the public had the opportunity to provide letters of support or other comments regarding the applicants.
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Work injuries continue to rise in Maine

• In the second quarter of 2023, in addition to completing investigations involving the timely and full payment of wages and overtime violations, the Maine Department of Labor saw an upward trend in the number of violations involving youth workers.
• The violations include employing youth workers without a work permit, working outside of the hourly restrictions for their age, and working in hazardous occupations not allowed under the law, which in some cases resulted in serious injury.
• Applications for minor work permits in Maine increased nearly 75% between 2017 and 2022. So far in 2023, the Department has received over 4,700 work permit applications.
• Of those, about 200 have been denied due to the application being for a hazardous occupation not allowed under the law.
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Arrest for workers’ comp fraud in Florida

• Miguel Porras, owner of Thiago’s Enterprise Construction Inc. in Miami, was arrested for workers’ compensation premium fraud of more than $350,000 after actively concealing payroll to avoid paying a higher workers’ compensation premium.
• Porras concealed his payroll to avoid paying a higher workers’ compensation premium.
• In 2021, Porras applied for workers’ compensation coverage with Southeast Personnel Leasing Inc. with an estimated annual remuneration of $56,104.
• Based on the provided information, a traditional policy was issued with an estimated annual premium of $4,400.
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