Workers' Compensation Bar Prevails

The New Jersey Appellate Division affirms the exclusivity of workers' compensation in a workplace-fall case.

New Jersey's Workplace Safety Wins

A data-driven examination of seven years of workers' compensation trends reveals encouraging progress—and work still needs to be done.

Chevron Falls: Workers' Compensation Survives

A year ago, we examined how the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo might reshape the workers' compensation landscape, particularly regarding Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) agreements and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) administration of the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Act. Now, with twelve months of hindsight, we can assess what has actually transpired—and what remains uncertain.

Heat: The Silent Worker Threat

When we think about workplace heat exposure, images of construction workers under the blazing sun or farmers toiling in fields typically come to mind. However, groundbreaking new research from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health reveals a sobering truth: heat is silently increasing the risk of injury for workers across virtually every industry—including those working primarily indoors.

Jersey Fights COVID Workplace Risks

New Jersey's bold move to expand COVID-19 vaccine access represents a critical step forward in workplace safety and pandemic preparedness at a time when other states are moving in the opposite direction. The Garden State's recent Executive Directive No. 25-003 and accompanying Standing Order demonstrate how state-level leadership can protect workers and communities when federal guidance falls short.

Workers' Compensation Breakdown

Professor Michael C. Duff's law review article "Reverberations of Magna Carta – Work Injuries, Inkblots, and Restitution" presents a scathing indictment of America's workers' compensation system. His central argument: workers have been "unconstitutionally undercompensated" for over a century, creating what amounts to a constitutional crisis hiding in plain sight.

NIOSH Gutted: Worker Safety at Risk?

The news sent shockwaves through the occupational safety and health community: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is facing near elimination due to significant restructuring within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). But what does this mean for the everyday worker and the future of workplace safety?

Amazon's OSHA Deal Transforms Warehouse Worker Safety Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a significant settlement with Amazon that amounts to a landmark agreement for warehouse worker safety. The settlement requires the e-commerce giant to implement comprehensive ergonomic measures across all its facilities nationwide. This agreement marks a crucial step towards improving workplace safety for hundreds of thousands of Amazon employees, particularly those working in demanding warehouse environments.

Roofing Contractor Faces $328,00 in Fines for Fall Hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a hefty fine of $328,000 to a Newark, New Jersey roofing contractor, RRC Home Improvement Inc., for serious fall hazards. This action highlights the critical importance of workplace safety, particularly in high-risk industries like roofing.

Algorithmic Burnout: Amazon's Warehouse Workers Under Siege

In a groundbreaking investigation, the United States Senate has exposed a disturbing reality within Amazon's warehouse operations: a systemic approach to worker productivity that comes at an unprecedented human cost. The report reveals a stark and troubling correlation between the company's relentless pursuit of efficiency and the physical well-being of its workforce.

How OSHA Standards Revolutionize Workplace Safety

Jordan Barab’s recent testimony before the House Education and Workforce Committee Subcommittee on Workforce Protections focused extensively on the importance of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards in ensuring workplace safety. 

New Jersey's S2422: Blazing a Trail for Worker Heat Protection Amid Federal Uncertainty

New Jersey Senate Bill S2422 provides for an occupational heat standard and aims to protect workers. The state-level proposal is critical in light of the recent US Supreme Court decision on Federal regulations.

Senate Blasts Amazon Over High Injury Rates

According to an interim investigation report by Senator Bernie Sanders and the Senate HELP Committee into Amazon's warehouse safety practices, warehouse workers continue to suffer excessive occupational injuries. The report focuses on peak seasons like Prime Day and the holiday season.

OSHA Proposes a Workplace Heat Standard

OSHA’s proposed new workplace heat standard requires employers to develop a plan to identify and address heat hazards. This plan must include monitoring heat conditions, providing water, and training employees about heat safety. The standard also sets requirements for acclimatization for new and returning employees.

East Coast Braces for Heat Dome: Workers Face Brutal Conditions

The East Coast is in for a sweltering week as a heat dome settles over the region. Temperatures are expected to soar into the high 90s or even triple digits, posing a significant health risk for outdoor workers and those in non-air-conditioned environments.

Federal judge affirms 2022 citation, penalties against United Airlines for failing to protect employee seriously injured when 737 crushes foot

A federal administrative law judge has affirmed safety violations against United Airlines related to a 2021 incident at Newark Liberty International Airport in which a 737's tire crushed a technician's foot as they worked with one of the company's towing crews.

Paterson Contractors Settle with OSHA for $215,000 for Safety Violations

Two related North Jersey construction contractor companies – Primetime Construction LLC and its subsidiary Primetime Contractors LLC of Paterson – have agreed to pay $215,000 in penalties and undertake several significant safety measures to resolve numerous safety violations found at five Paterson construction worksites in 2021, as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Analysis of US EPA's Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde and Worker Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) draft risk evaluation of formaldehyde, released on March 15, 2024, raises significant concerns for worker health and worker compensation risk exposure.

OSHA Fines Paterson NJ Contractor $1Million for Fall Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a New Jersey contractor for again exposing workers to fall hazards, this time while working at a construction site in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

OSHA Fines NJ Container Company $437,860 for Safety and Health Violation

A transportation company faces $437,860 in federal penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated its Paulsboro, NJ, location and found workplace safety and health hazards.