Everyone likes to come up with ways of saving money with workers' compensation insurance plans. The latest idea is known as "opt-out" plans, and Oklahoma is the first state to put such an operation into practice. An employer can use the state's workers' compensation system or they can opt-out, and develop their own plan. The employer's own plan is virtually unregulated and unsupervised.
Workplace dangers prove fatal for many
People spend a good portion of their lives at work, and there are several laws and precautions in place that are designed to keep people safe in the workplace. Employers are required to carry worker's compensation insurance, and organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Association and the National Safety Council actively work to help keep workplaces as safe as possible. Still, there are many people who are injured, and even killed while they are on the job.
"It's almost like a second injury"
The police officer in Blair, Nebraska responded to the call, never imagining it would be his last. A man, apparently drunk, had struck a wall of a building. The man was slumped in his seat and did not seem to be breathing. The officer attempted to move him and he became agitated and began assaulting the officer, who during the fight suffered nerve damage to his neck when the man violently grabbed his head and wrenched it.
Grain, feed industry focus of OSHA program to reduce worker risk
Agricultural products like grain and feed are big business in Nebraska, and many workers are employed by grain elevators and other grain-handling sites. These workers are exposed to a variety of risks as they go about their jobs and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a program to focus attention on these workplaces in an effort to reduce worker injuries and deaths.
One way to prevent workers' comp claims
Insurance policies can be complex and are often present many hurdles to make a successful claim. Workers' Compensation programs are, in essence, insurance programs designed to provide benefits for workers who have been injured on the job.
Meat-packing plants the focus of new OSHA initiative
Workers employed at meat-packaging facilities know that they face dangerous conditions each time they are on the job. Accidents happen frequently in the industry, and even if a worker does everything right, they may still find themselves suffering a serious injury if an incident happens.
