Kansas City Metropolitan Area Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Forklifts are hazardous in the hands of untrained operators

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Monday, June 11, 2018.

Employees in the manufacturing or warehousing industry in Missouri face a variety of hazards, of which one of the most significant is forklifts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says thousands of workers suffer forklift-related injuries every year, and many injured victims do not survive. For this reason, the agency prescribes safety regulations for forklift operators, and it governs compliance strictly.

If you are the operator of one of over 850,000 forklifts working in facilities nationwide, you will likely know that you have a significant responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner that will not endanger the lives of your co-workers. Forklift accidents typically involve crushing or pinning workers against hard surfaces or tip-overs, which often result in the operators' deaths.

Appropriate compensation for repetitive stress injuries

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

If you are a Kansas worker who suffered injuries in the workplace, you know that your pain and suffering is more than just an inconvenience. Any type of work-related injury is a direct threat to your ability to earn a living, and it can lead to expensive medical bills and other complications in your life.

This is also true if you are suffering from repetitive stress injuries that developed as a result of your job. These are real injuries that can cause extreme pain and diminished physical abilities. Because this injury is related to your job duties, you likely have a rightful claim to workers' compensation benefits.

You can protect yourself from construction site hazards

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Monday, April 9, 2018.

Construction companies in Missouri and Kansas have many responsibilities when it comes to the safety and health of their employees. They must provide work environments that are free of known hazards, and allow workers to communicate and report unanticipated dangers they come across. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes safety guidelines and regulations to cover almost all known hazards, and employers must provide the necessary safety training while also ensuring compliance with federal safety rules.

If you work in the construction industry, you will know that the list of potential hazards is endless. Unfortunately, not all employers prioritize employee safety, and it might be up to you to look after your own safety.

Don't let a trench be your last resting place

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Monday, March 12, 2018.

If you are a construction worker in Missouri or Kansas, you will likely have to risk your life frequently. Some of the most hazardous surroundings in this industry are trenches, and although these are known risks, trench collapses continue to cause severe injuries and claim the lives of employees. If your employer prioritizes profits over employee safety, your life may be at risk.

Some business owners avoid the expenses of equipment to support trench walls, while others have grown complacent and fail to consider collapsing excavations. If your life is at risk in this way, you may want to learn about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's safety regulations with which your employer must comply.

Why the year 1970 may be crucial to your workers' comp case

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

In 1970, there were approximately 14,000 fatalities on the job throughout the nation, and some were probably here in Kansas. Then-president Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law. That same Act protects you in the workplace with OSHA-written and enforced safety standards nationwide. Whether you work in an office or on a scaffold 100 feet in the air, your employer is obligated to adhere to the standards set to keep your risk of injury as low as possible.

The law expects your employer to provide you with proper training and all the equipment necessary to keep you safe at work. Most employers are also obligated to purchase insurance through which you may file a claim to collect benefits if you suffer injury during work hours.

Adequate industrial safety training may keep you safe

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Monday, January 8, 2018.

If your position in the Missouri workforce puts you in a construction, mining or manufacturing environment, you will undoubtedly face countless hazards during every shift you work. Industrial hazards can cause fractures, musculoskeletal injuries, open wounds, falls and physical injuries. There are injury risks of varying types and severity in any workplace.

There is little chance of complete elimination of industrial hazards, but compliance with strict regulations and measures to protect the safety and health of employees may limit the number and severity of occupational injuries. If you arm yourself with knowledge about the potential hazards in your workplace environment and attend all safety-training programs, you might keep yourself out of harm's way.

Don't let your workplace injury affect your financial stability

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Sunday, December 10, 2017.

Regardless of the industry in which you earn your living, your employer must provide workers' compensation insurance coverage. This program aims to provide both you and your employer with protection. While you can claim benefits for any workplace injury -- even one that you caused -- you may not file a lawsuit against your employer. Exceptions exist for cases in which your employer's gross negligence harmed you.

Knowing that you will receive benefits that will protect your financial stability in the event of an occupational injury or illness will likely provide peace of mind. However, it is essential to follow the necessary steps to ensure maximum workers' compensation benefits.

Offices and construction sites pose some similar injury hazards

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

In which industry do you earn your living? Have you noticed that many people seem to think that only those working in construction, manufacturing, mining and other high-risk industries face workplace injury hazards? The truth is that workers in all sectors can suffer occupational injuries or illnesses, and although their injuries might not involve blood and fractured bones, they could be as painful and could even result in long-term or chronic health problems.

On-the-job injuries can happen to any worker in any profession at any time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says millions of workers nationwide suffer work-related injuries or diseases every year. Fortunately, if you are a workplace injury victim in Missouri or Kansas, you will be entitled to claim workers' compensation benefits to help you cope with the unanticipated financial burden.

Nurses: While you care for others, your health may be in jeopardy

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Sunday, October 8, 2017.

Did you know that if your occupation is nursing, your job is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in Kansas? As a medical worker, you spend your days in an environment that is a potential source for contracting any one of many diseases or suffering an injury. Along with many other possible physical injuries, such as musculoskeletal trauma, you may face risks of suffering needle-stick wounds, cuts, burns, electrical shocks and more.

Furthermore, your emotional balance can be at risk when you spend time with severely ill patients or life-and-death situations. At these times, you might be most vulnerable to forget about protecting yourself from the unique hazards of the area in which you work.

Scaffolding safety and preventing unnecessary injuries

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in blog on Thursday, September 14, 2017.

Kansas construction workers face various risks every time they report to work on a job site. Working in this industry comes with the chance that you will face injury at some point, but that does not mean that you do not have the right to a workplace that is as safe as reasonably possible.

Scaffolding is an important part of construction work, yet they can also be a source of great risk and danger when not used properly. Training, adherence to regulations and other measures can lead to a reduction in preventable scaffolding accidents. If you were hurt in a scaffolding accident on a construction site, you could have the right to workers' compensation benefits.

Kansas City Workers' Compensation Law Blog