Vaccine Recommendations: Essential Workers and Seniors

Today the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP] recommended the following phased allocation of COVID-19 \vaccination for both essential workers and seniors. Vaccination of essential workers will favorably impact workers' compensation losses, especially in those jurisdictions where rebuttable presumptions have been enacted that liberalize the burden of proof required to claim workers' compensation benefits.

The major phases of COVID-19

 The major phases of Covid-19 have been posted in a diagram format by Dr. Daniel Griffin, MD Ph.D., on his Twitter account. The two major categories are the Viral Replication Period and the Inflammatory Period.

NJ Governor Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Winter Storm

NJ Governor Murphy has declared that all State offices will close at 1pm on December 16, 2020 due to inclement weather conditions. Personnel who are not designated as weather essential should go home and continue to work their regular shift via telework. 

Major increase in work-related deaths reported

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the census of fatal occupational injuries in 2019. A major increase in work-related deaths has been reported over the prior year. The changing workplace and a major increase in deliveries were reflected in the report in that nearly one out of every five fatally injured workers was employed as a driver/sales worker or truck driver.

NJ Governor Phil Murphy’s Conditional Veto Message on Senate Bill No. 2354

Pursuant to Article V, Section I, Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I am returning Senate Bill No. 2354 (Second Reprint) with my recommendations for reconsideration.

Protecting Workers During the Pandemic

Workplace safety is a significant issue in the waning days of the Trump Administration as Congress struggles to pass legislation before the end of the calendar year when CARES Act support terminates for many American workers. As the winter/holiday season coronavirus surge challenges hospital capacity and causing additional closure of non-essential jobs, the Republicans remain adamant about restricting lawsuits against employers.

NCCI Reports: NJ Among the Top States with COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Claims

The National Council on Compensation Claims, Inc., [NCCI] has reported that the COVID-19 workers' compensation claims in the State of New Jersey number among the highest in the nation.