“The Promise” made in 1911, with the adoption of the compensation system, is now past history. The demands
of the globalized marketplace have eroded the fortress of workers’ compensation that
protected the rights, safety and lives of American workers.
Over the last few months, I have seen first hand how hospitals struggle to stop the spread of Staph
“For decades, Oklahoma has had one of the most expensive and inefficient workers’ compensation systems in the country, a constant obstacle for business owners looking to expand operations or create more jobs,” Fallin said. “Senate Bill 1062 completely overhauls our flawed workers’ comp system, dramatically reducing the costs to businesses and freeing up private-sector resources that can be invested in jobs rather than lawsuits. Additionally, our reforms ensure injured workers are treated fairly and given the medical care needed to return to work. This is an important pro-growth policy that will help us attract jobs and build a stronger and more prosperous Oklahoma. My thanks go out to Pro Tem Bingman, Speaker Shannon and the entire Legislature forsending this bill to my desk.”
 |
| Professor Emeritis John F. Burton Jr. |
Injured workers with claims under the Longshore & Harbor Workers Act and the Defense Base Act, who are awaiting hearings by federal administrative law judges (ALJs), have now had their cases seriously impacted by the Sequester. The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), with District Offices in seven cities including San Francisco, schedules hearings not only in those cities but in other venues in the District. The San Francisco office schedules hearings in San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Denver and elsewhere, and so-called Calendar Calls are scheduled in those cities by traveling ALJs. The Sequester has caused the San Francisco office...to cancel all travel by ALJs until at least October, when a new fiscal year for OALJ may refresh its travel budget.The Sequester has caused the San Francisco office, which covers a larger geographical territory than any other, to cancel all travel by ALJs until at least October, when a new fiscal year for OALJ may refresh its travel budget. No further Calendars in outlying cities will be scheduled until at least October. In the meantime, the parties may agree to bring their witnesses to San Francisco for hearings (or agree to a telephonic hearing – rarely a good alternative), but both sides must to agree to the alternative process. The cost of bringing the claimant and expert witnesses to San Francisco, even if jointly agreed to, makes that a mostly unrealistic option.
The cancellation of travel for ALJs makes the system even more unfair to claimants.
 |
| Dr. David Michaels |
This is because of the intoxication defense: if an employer can prove that intoxication was the cause of the workers’ injury, then they employer is not required to provide workers’ comp for that injury. Now, there are some notableIf the blood test shows the presence of alcohol or drugs, odds that the employee will be able to collect workers’ compensation are much lower.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries encourages employers to offer light-duty positions to their injured workers - - the suggestion is written across the top of every time loss compensation order - - as early after an injury occurs as possible. If an injured worker declines a valid job offer, time loss compensation will end.
Commenting on the feature article exposing the need to great enforcement of safety measures by OSHA, Tom O'Connor, Executive Director, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, stated: "While nearly 5,000 workers die on the job each year, an estimated 50,000 more develop an occupational illness. Yet despite this toll, the federal government sits on rules that could help prevent workers from developing occupational illnesses. A proposed rule that would prevent workers from being exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust on the job has remained mired at the Office of Management and Budget for more than two years."
