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.

NJ Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Landmark Case

On September 25, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that is poised to set significant precedent for workers' compensation law. Giuseppe Amato v. Township of Ocean School District (Docket A-31-24).

The case centers on the dependency claim filed by the widower of a school teacher who tragically died of COVID-19 after returning to in-person instruction as she complied with The Governor's Executive  Order to return work in the classroom. The Supreme Court's review focuses on a highly contentious legal question: the scope of New Jersey's COVID-19 Essential Employee Presumption..

NJ's Minimum Wage Climbs Higher

 Garden State Workers to See $15.92 Hourly Rate in 2026

New Jersey's minimum wage landscape is undergoing another change. Starting January 1, 2026, most employees across the Garden State will see their minimum hourly wage increase to $15.92, marking a $0.43 jump from the current rate. This announcement from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development continues the state's commitment to ensuring workers receive a livable wage.

Masks, Hugs, and Proof Gaps

On March 15, 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Elijah hugged his coworker, Juan Martinez, in a PATH employee locker room after resolving an argument. Neither wore masks. Martinez had been experiencing symptoms he described as resembling a head cold—dizziness, coughing, heavy breathing, and headaches—though as a smoker, he considered seasonal coughs normal.

Workers' Compensation Lien Secures Damages

In a negligence action arising from a motor vehicle accident, the court found the defendants were 85% at fault, and the plaintiff, Antonio Lorenzo-Noda, was 15% at fault. The court determined that the plaintiff's negligence, at 15%, was less than the 51% threshold under the New Jersey Comparative Negligence Act, which allows him to recover damages.

Shutdown Threatens Workers' Compensation Settlements

As the September 30 deadline looms, workers' compensation professionals nationwide face an unprecedented crisis that could freeze thousands of settlements, leaving injured workers in a state of financial limbo.

The Evolving Threat: Modernizing Biosafety to Prevent a Pandemic

Nearly a decade and a half after the initial discussion on the accidental release of potential pandemic pathogens (PPPs), the topic remains a critical concern. As research continues on highly pathogenic viruses like avian influenza A(H5N1), a healthy dose of anxiety and a strong commitment to safety are more important than ever. The debate around the risk-benefit of such research, once highlighted by experts like Marc Lipsitch and Barry R. Bloom, is ongoing, with current research showing a non-negligible risk that an accidental escape event would not be contained.