Workers' Compensation

Has the government made working conditions for truckers unsafe?

Published on: February 4, 2015 | by Patrick E. Knie

Trucking is a huge part of the United States economy. According to statistics from the American Trucking Associations, in 2013, trucks accounted for 81 percent of the $682 billion in freight revenue. In order to generate this level of revenue though, trucking companies have to keep tight schedules, oftentimes requiring their drivers to work longer hours than they should. In many cases, drivers arrive at their destination fatigued only to have to turn around again to get another load.

A rise in the number of fatigued-driving cases across the nation among commercial truck drivers forced the federal government to act. New rules were put in place that reduced the number of hours a truck driver could operate before needing to take a rest break. The rules also increased the amount of rest time needed before returning to work. The thought was that the new regulations would reduce the likelihood of fatigued driving, thereby reducing the number of accidents as well.

But according to many in the trucking industry, the change in rest rules created another situation that may be just as problematic as fatigued driving. Truckers across the nation, including here in South Carolina, are now running into the problem of finding “legal, safe and well-lit parking places” in some cities across the nation. In some cases, truck drivers are forced to drive miles out of their way, sometimes at the risk of violating rest rules in order to find a safe place to park and rest.

Could artificial turf be presenting athletes with a cancer risk?

Published on: October 14, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

Thanks to teams like the Seattle Sounders, the LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls, major league soccer is growing in popularity across the nation, which means, in many states, a need for new stadiums. But in some states, the weather doesn’t always permit a full open-air concept, meaning some stadiums must remain closed off from the elements, utilizing artificial turf instead of natural grass.

If you’ve been on or seen an artificial turf surface, you may have noticed what looks to be little black dots. In many cases, these are ground up recycled tires used to create a bouncier surface that is supposed to be safer for athletes. Or at least so we’re told.

5 jobsite dangers construction workers should know

Published on: August 21, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

Construction is often considered as one of the most dangerous lines of work. That’s because, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the fatal injury rate for construction workers is higher than the national average across all industries. And with an estimated 252,000 construction sites across the nation, it’s not difficult to see why the rate is so high.

That’s why we wanted to highlight a few construction site dangers for our readers in this week’s blog post. The hope is that it will give you a better understanding of the dangers present in your work environment and help you avoid a potential workplace accident later on.

3 injured in South Carolina plant explosion

Published on: June 16, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

Parts of South Carolina are heavily industrialized, and plant employees work hard for their income. When a serious workplace accident leaves an industrial worker injured, the incident should be thoroughly investigated to determine if any safety violations occurred. The injury and any related medical treatment should also be well documented for a workers’ compensation claim.

A recent explosion at a radiator plant in Edgefield County is being investigated by the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The blast injured three workers, two of whom were still in critical condition at the time of a local report. One man reportedly suffered burns on 50 percent of his body, and another man was burned on 30 percent of his body. The third injured worker was treated and released.

Mill workers settle lawsuits after chemical explosion

Published on: May 5, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, then you have the right to appropriate medical treatment that should be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier. However, you could be entitled to additional compensation if the accident was caused by a third party’s negligence, such as with a dangerous or defective product.

With that in mind, readers in Spartanburg may recall a tragic work accident that occurred in 2012 at a York County paper mill. Three workers suffered burn injuries at the Resolute Forest Products facility when a valve failed and sprayed the men with sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide — a solution otherwise known as “white liquor.”

Mishandling of case may have resulted in loss of workers’ comp

Published on: February 28, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

As readers of our blog know, employees have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits if they suffer a work-related injury. But as many may not know, certain laws can conflict with this right and cause a person to lose access to their benefits. While a lawyer is often considered responsible for telling their client about these potential problems, a case in Charleston is showing that this doesn’t always happen and what issues this can create.

Originally, a class action lawsuit had been filed on behalf of South Carolina residents who had suffered work-related injuries due to asbestos exposure during the course of their employment. The class action was expected to cover some 14,900 people and was supposed to seek damages for the plaintiffs. But a group of South Carolinians say that instead of getting adequate compensation, their lawyers mishandled their case and made it so that they can no longer collect workers’ compensation benefits.

Witnesses may hold the key sometimes in workers’ comp claims

Published on: January 16, 2014 | by Patrick E. Knie

If you’ve ever suffered a work-related injury then you probably did one of two things. If you’re like some people in South Carolina, you may not have filed a claim assuming that your injury was not bad enough to warrant the hassle. But if you’re like many of our readers, then you know that even unassuming injuries can sometimes cause problems down the road and know how important it is to file a claim immediately after receiving the injury.

But for those who do file workers’ compensation claims for work-related injuries, this process can sometimes be marred by adjusters who may not believe your story or are uncaring about your situation and do not take the time to really investigate your injury. As a result, some claims may be denied despite their validity, leaving an injured worker potentially unable to work and wondering what they should do next.