Workers Comp

00fb55d5 d643 4bfc afbd 58538242f47e

DeSantis signs legislation prohibiting local workplace heat protections

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Thursday that prohibits municipalities from requiring employers to institute local workplace heat protections. The measure, House Bill 433, prevents local governments from establishing, or requiring employers to establish, heat exposure requirements that are not otherwise required under state or federal law. The bill says the prohibition would not apply …

DeSantis signs legislation prohibiting local workplace heat protections Read More »

0d036f90 25a5 4294 a36a 70930cab7f41

Suit against subcontractors not barred by exclusive remedy: Appeals Court

A Michigan appellate court has allowed a negligence lawsuit to proceed against a pair of subcontractors, ruling that workers compensation exclusive remedy doesn’t apply when a worker who becomes injured on a jointly controlled job site seeks to sue a company other than his employer. The Michigan Court of Appeals on Thursday reversed a trial …

Suit against subcontractors not barred by exclusive remedy: Appeals Court Read More »

b41f195d b432 4ef8 9da7 83d5f3408d6b

Contractor cited after workers plunge in pier collapse

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday it cited a marine and heavy construction contractor after five workers plunged into a river during a pier collapse. OSHA cited Plantsville, Connecticut-based Mohawk Northeast Inc. for one “willful” violation and four “serious” violations and proposed $214,327 in penalties following the October 2023 workplace accident. Two …

Contractor cited after workers plunge in pier collapse Read More »

7a19a9e9 643f 4392 8506 01efe8755513

Governor signs bill drastically increasing comp benefits

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Thursday signed a workers compensation bill that includes benefit increases and more restrictive criteria for injured workers to receive future care after reaching maximum medical improvement. S.B. 430 increases permanent total disability benefits to $400,000 from $155,000. The bill increases the maximum temporary total, permanent partial and temporary partial disability benefit …

Governor signs bill drastically increasing comp benefits Read More »

7f04be94 2ae4 4f4b 8244 b3fcac1dc7a6

Pa. lawmakers introduce recreational marijuana bill

Pennsylvania lawmakers have filed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana, a measure sponsors say is grounded in “safety and social equity” while emphasizing safe workplaces. House Bill 2210, introduced Tuesday, would regulate the personal use and possession of cannabis. There is companion legislation pending in the Senate. The state legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2016. …

Pa. lawmakers introduce recreational marijuana bill Read More »

962c50b4 02a1 413a 9403 662b23af5f01

Psychosocial work hazards require employer intervention

Psychosocial hazards in the workplace are causing physical and psychological harm to employees at increasing rates and driving a call to improve worker well-being, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Psychosocial hazards are on the verge of surpassing many other occupational hazards, the report states. This …

Psychosocial work hazards require employer intervention Read More »