Omaha Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Workplace injuries: Good lifting techniques protect your back

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workplace injuries on Friday, October 11, 2019.

Most people in the Omaha workforce must lift and move heavy objects either frequently or occasionally. Even office workers must lift heavy items from time to time. Workers in other industries like construction and warehousing must lift large and heavy items frequently. Many workplace injuries in Nebraska occur because employees do not know how to lift these objects properly.

Responsible employers provide their staff with regular safety training to help them learn proper lifting techniques. This helps to cut down on worker absences as well as workplace injuries. To help refresh your memory, review the proper lifting strategy outlined below.

Are you exposed to amputation injury risks?

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

If you work in a garage workshop, welding shop, metal fabrication plant, or any other industrial workplace in Nebraska, your on-the-job safety will largely depend on your employer's compliance with regulated safety standards. Dangers include a variety of moving machine parts, all of which require adequate safeguarding to prevent accidental contact. Violations of safety regulations can cause catastrophic injuries from amputations to death.

You might be aware that many business owners focus on profits instead of employee safety. You can insist on a safe work environment; however, to do that, you must be familiar with the safety standards mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Minor work injury? You should still file an injury report

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workers' compensation on Friday, October 4, 2019.

We will begin this blog post with a hypothetical scenario. You are working hard at your job when you trip over a piece of debris or equipment. You fall and hit your head on the hard floor. Other than feeling a little lightheaded for a moment, you appear to be just fine. Should you go on about your work or stop for a moment to file an injury report?

Most dedicated workers in the Omaha region would simply shake off their initial symptoms -- as minor as they are -- and carry on with their tasks. Although this is an understandable response when you feel okay after an accident, it is vital to go ahead and file an injury or incident report.

Nebraska grain elevator accident leaves 1 worker dead

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workplace accident on Tuesday, September 24, 2019.

Employment in the grain industry comes with its share of unique risks. As you may imagine, handling and storing grain to help feed an entire nation is typically a very large operation requiring many workers and precise attention to safety. When a workplace accident in this industry occurs, the outcome rarely favors the victim.

A recent grain industry accident that occurred in Fremont, Nebraska, is one example of how dangerous this type of work can be. According to a news report, a 32-year-old worker lost his life after apparently falling into a massive grain storage container.

The many hazards associated with Nebraska's agriculture industry

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workplace accident on Friday, September 20, 2019.

The state of Nebraska is famous for its contributions to the American meat production industry. However, the state also contributes significantly to the national agriculture industry as well. Farming on a very large scale is not exactly a popular occupation, but it still attracts many workers looking for steady income. Unfortunately, the large-scale farming industry has many health hazards.

Those who work in the farming industry face dangerous conditions every day. Some of these workplace accident hazards are well-known. For example, accidents involving farming equipment are common and often result in severe injuries. However, farmworkers face serious health risks as well. Examples include:

Sun exposure. Agricultural workers spend many hours exposed to the harmful rays of the sun, which can lead to skin cancer.
Chemical exposure. Frequent use of and contact with pesticides and other chemicals can lead to serious illness or death.
Toxic dust exposure. Contact with different types of dust frequently causes respiratory conditions, many of them disabling to workers.
Noise exposure. Farm equipment is quite loud. Without proper ear protection, exposure to loud noises could lead to loss of hearing.
Heat exposure. Farm work is hot work, particularly during the summer months. Workers exposed to too much heat may suffer conditions like heat stress or heat exhaustion.

Workers' compensation for the survivors of fallen firefighters

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

To most of us who reside in Nebraska, firefighters are heroic figures worthy of our admiration. They place themselves in harm's way every time they respond to a fire without much thought about their safety.

When firefighters die in the line of duty or because of an occupational illness, their families may not be able to continue with their previous way of life. This, added to the mental and emotional suffering survivors experience, results in hardships that most people never have to endure.

Nebraska meatpackers may have to face even more accident risks

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in industrial workers' accidents on Saturday, September 7, 2019.

Industrial workers' accidents plague many Nebraska employees, but the meat-packing industry is particularly dangerous. Some of the injuries that affect the industry include serious cuts, amputations, back strain, repetitive movement injury and many others. The current government now wants to approve speedier production lines while reducing the industry's oversight.

A recent study by Human Rights Watch shows how these proposed changes would affect industrial workers' accidents in the meatpacking industry. Some highlights from the report as published in a news article include the following.

Accelerating meatpacking production lines may place the lives of workers at risk
Most of the meatpacking workers interviewed for the report say that they fear an increase in production line speeds
The report points out that these workers already suffer an alarmingly high rate of injury
Interviewed workers say that they already experience a lot of pressure to increase production without government approval
If the government continues to reduce oversight of these industries, it could lead to an increase in severe industrial workers' accidents

Years of experience will not keep you safe in a factory

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

Regardless of whether you work in a facility that manufactures farm equipment, ammunition, sports equipment, or food and beverages, you will face hazards that could cause life-changing injuries. Although each plant poses unique risks, the manufacturing, fabrication and assembly industries have inherent dangers with which you will have to deal. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes specific regulations for some of the hazards, the agency's general standards govern the others.

Regardless of how many years you have worked without suffering injuries, you will face significant risks during each shift you work. For that reason, it is essential to know your rights in the event of an injury. Any of the following hazards could cause injuries that might result in temporary disabilities, and it would be sensible to understand how to obtain workers' compensation benefits.

Workplace injuries: Does your job expose you to asbestos?

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workplace injuries on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Unbeknownst to many workers in the Omaha region, some occupations expose its staff members to asbestos. Although government guidelines exist to regulate this dangerous substance, exposure can lead to workplace injuries in the form of illness. Remaining informed about the possible presence of asbestos can help you decide whether to remain in your current line of work or to seek employment in a different industry.

Before learning which industries use asbestos, it is vital to understand that help is available after suffering dangerous levels of exposure to the material. Workers' compensation is one avenue to explore after falling ill from asbestos exposure. You can find other ways to pursue compensation for your workplace injuries and illnesses by consulting with an attorney.

Workers' compensation and possible worker negligence

On behalf of Dowd & Corrigan, LLC posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

Let's begin this blog post by looking at a hypothetical situation. An Omaha factory worker suffers a serious head injury when a box of equipment falls and strikes the employee. Despite numerous signs posted throughout the workplace instructing workers' to wear hard hats at all times, this worker failed to don the required safety gear. Is he or she still eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits?

The short answer is to the question above is, "Yes." American states, including Nebraska, do not typically consider employee fault when reviewing a workers' compensation claim. This is the price business owners and employers pay to avoid injury lawsuits filed by workers. However, the possibility of receiving a claim denial still exists.