Kansas City Metropolitan Area Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Does cancer qualify me for SSD?

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi posted in social security disability on Monday, January 7, 2019.

A diagnosis of cancer immediately changes the focus of your life and that of your family. As a Missouri resident, you may wonder if you can receive financial assistance through the Social Security Administration to help pay the bills if you can no longer work. The short answer to the question is maybe. Navigating the process required to apply is often complicated and time-consuming.

The Cancer Support Community reports that the SSA uses the Blue Book, a medical resource, when determining whether you are eligible for financial assistance. While some hard to treat or aggressive cancers qualify with only a diagnosis, most require additional proof for approval. Reviewing this resource with your oncologist may shed more light on whether you will qualify.

Treasure your hearing - it cannot be replaced

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says many millions of workers nationwide, including in Missouri, deal with workplace environments with excessive noise exposure. Does this include you? If you are a carpenter, a plumber or one of many other occupations where hearing loss is common, you might be wise to take precautions.

You will not see hearing loss coming because no warning signs exist. Long-term exposure to dangerous noise levels causes gradual, irreversible damage.

Can you avoid all the typical workplace hazards?

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

Regardless of the industry in which you earn your living as a member of the Missouri workforce, there will always be a potential for a workplace accident. Your employer might be conscientious and attentive to compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but the slightest safety violation could have devastating consequences. Vigilance of employers and employees is essential to limit hazards.

While many hazards that you might face pose physical dangers, you must not forget about the mental and psychological challenges to which your job might expose you.

Take precautions to avoid spending the holidays in a hospital

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Monday, November 5, 2018.

Beware winter is here, and in Kansas City, temperatures can range between mild and bitterly cold. If you are a part of the workforce that serves in the manufacturing, production, material moving or transportation industries, you might want to take timely precautions to prevent injuries that might spoil the upcoming holidays and festivities. The most common safety and health threats at this time of the year are vehicle accidents, slips and trips that lead to falls, and illnesses such as colds and flu.

Along with slushy or ice-covered walkways, the cold weather can reduce the blood circulation to your feet, and the limited sensation in your toes might jeopardize your ability to maintain balance. Furthermore, decreased focus levels can result from fewer daylight hours along with the energy-zapping cold temperatures.

How to best stay safe as a young employee

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

When young workers start their careers, everything they learn about workplace safety during those first few months will form the basis of their personal safety culture. It can instill in them the sense of independence in knowing that they are responsible for not only their own safety but also to look out for their co-workers.

If you have just recently joined the Kansas City workforce, developing positive safety protocols might serve you well throughout your working life. You may have had summer jobs working in restaurants or retail stores, gaining valuable experience. However, the volumes of customers during the busy summer months could have possibly conditioned you to speed through your work with little or no consideration of safety. Unfortunately, when you start certain full-time jobs, rushing has the potential to cause serious harm, and so can other factors like fatigue, frustration and complacency.

What can you do if your job made you sick?

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

Every job, no matter what type, comes with certain risks. There are certain types of employment that come with an elevated chance of physical injury, but Kansas workers may also face the threat of occupational illness. It is possible exposure to certain things while doing your job made you sick.

If your job is the reason for your illness, you could have grounds to seek support and benefits through a workers' compensation claim. This type of insurance is not only for those who suffered injuries in workplace accidents but also for those who became sick but to environmental hazards and other reasons. Sick workers may find it beneficial to seek a complete understanding of their rights before moving forward with a claim.

Isn't it time to teach your boss about ergonomics?

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Monday, August 6, 2018.

If you work at a plant nursery in Missouri, your daily tasks likely include pruning plants, moving containers, filling trays, pulling plugs and digging. It might not seem like a hazardous occupation, but you might develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) that cause chronic pain for years to come.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide safe workplace environments, and recommends regular ergonomic assessments to reduce the risk of MSDs. What if you develop an MSD anyway?

Your boss might have no sympathy for your invisible work injury

On behalf of The Law Office of Michael J. Joshi on Monday, July 9, 2018.

Millions of workers nationwide suffer occupational injuries every year, many of them live in Kansas. If you suffer the consequences of an on-the-job injury, you might face mounting medical bills, lost work time, and permanent or temporary disability. Workplace injuries can follow slip-and-fall accidents, electrocution, vehicle collisions, caught-in or between objects, struck-by accidents or one of many other hazards.

However, you might be a victim of one of those hidden injuries that are invisible for others to see, although they can cause extreme pain. Regardless of your occupation, you could suffer one of these injuries that might be either a musculoskeletal or a repetitive motion injury.

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.

Kansas City Workers' Compensation Law Blog