An increase of injuries suffered by warehouse workers, fueled by employers' use of artificial intelligence, is getting legislative attention. The focus is on Amazon and other major retail giants whose business has exploded since the COVID Pandemic emerged.
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Thursday, September 23, 2021
Warehouse Workers' Injuries Are Increasing as Employers Use Artificial Intelligence
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
NJDOL, Treasury Raid Worksite in First Joint-Enforcement Action to Combat Worker Misclassification
A team of more than 60 investigators from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) and the Department of the Treasury, supported by other state agencies, conducted an unannounced investigation of a construction site at 88 Regent Street in Jersey City in response to allegations of worker misclassification.
Friday, July 30, 2021
NJ Division of Workers’ Compensation Announces Limited in-person Proceedings Effective August 16, 2021
Effective Monday, August 16, 2021, the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation shall implement a cautious return to normal operations with the resumption of limited in-person proceedings and an increase of on-site presence of workers’ compensation judges and court staff as set forth below.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
NJ Enacts Legislation to Protect New Jersey Workers, Employers From Unlawful Misclassification
Building on his commitment to making sure that workers and employers in New Jersey are treated fairly, Governor Phil Murphy today signed a four-bill legislative package furthering state efforts to stop employee misclassification.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
NJ CRIB Policy Coverage Mobile App
The New Jersey Compensation, Rating and Inspection Bureau [NJCRIB] has released a mobile app to ascertain workers' compensation insurance policy data.
Monday, March 29, 2021
Rubio, Gillibrand Introduce Landmark Burn Pits Legislation to Help Veterans
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Permanent Disability: The post-acute COVID-19 sequelae
The residuals of post-acute residuals of COVID-19 (Sars-CoV-2) may result in compensable permanent disability for many individuals (long haulers). A recent study outlines the potential compensable sequelae.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
UCSF and Johns Hopkins University Launch Digital Trove of Opioid Industry Documents
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Bill to Overhaul National Unemployment Insurance Technology
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in New Jersey Extended 30 more Days
Governor Murphy Announces Intention to Nominate Rachel Wainer Apter to Serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court
OSHA cites New Jersey frozen dessert manufacturer after second amputation injury on same machine
Stop-Work Order Issued to NJ Contractor for Misclassification Violations
Saturday, March 13, 2021
American Rescue Plan Act - Compensation Provisions
US Department Of Labor Announces Proposals To Rescind Two Rules That Undermine Worker Protections Against Unfair Pay Practices
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced proposals to rescind two final rules that would significantly weaken protections afforded to American workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Novavax Confirms High Levels of Efficacy Against Original and Variant COVID-19 Strains in United Kingdom and South Africa Trials
-Final analysis in U.K. trial confirms 96% efficacy against original strain of COVID-19
-Efficacy against variants confirmed in U.K. and South Africa
Friday, March 12, 2021
OSHA Launches Program To Protect High-Risk Workers From Coronavirus, Focuses On Employers That Retaliate Against Workers With Safety Concerns
In response to President Biden’s executive order on protecting worker health and safety, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on companies that put the largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. The program also prioritizes employers that retaliate against workers for complaints about unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or for exercising other rights protected by federal law.
Saturday, March 6, 2021
OSHA fined an Ohio company following a partial arm amputation
While cleaning an auger used to rice potatoes, a 39-year-old production worker found her left arm caught in a running auger. The worker suffered multiple lacerations and the partial amputation of her arm. Co-workers had to cut the auger apart to free her arm.
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
DOL Inspector General Issues Report on OSHA’s COVID-19 Inaction
The US Department of Labor Office of Inspection General (OIG) reported that a study of OSHA’s actions during the COVID-19 Pandemic put workers’ safety at risk.
WHY OIG CONDUCTED THE AUDIT
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised specific concerns about the health and safety of workers and the measures OSHA has taken to ensure employers are mitigating employees’ risk of exposure to the virus at workplaces.
Due to the pandemic, OSHA has received a surge of complaints in a matter of months, while garnering the attention of Congress, labor unions, and media with requests to act swiftly on behalf of the 130 million workers at more than 8 million worksites nationwide whom OSHA is responsible for protecting.
WHAT OIG DID
We conducted this audit to answer the following question:
What plans and guidance has OSHA developed to address challenges created by COVID-19, and to what extent have these challenges affected OSHA’s ability to protect the safety of workers and its workforce?
To answer this question, we reviewed guidance, public laws, and state standards; conducted interviews; and researched complaint and enforcement data.
READ THE FULL REPORT
https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2021/19-21-003-10-105.pdf
OSHA has taken a series of actions to address its challenges and has issued guidance in response to the pandemic. However, increased complaints, reduced inspections, and most inspections not being conducted onsite subject employees to greater safety risk.
Since the start of the pandemic, OSHA has received a sudden influx of complaints, and as a means of reducing person-to-person contact, has reduced the number of its inspections, particularly onsite inspections. Compared to a similar period in 2019, OSHA received
15 percent more complaints in 2020, but performed 50 percent fewer inspections. As a result, there is an increased risk that OSHA is not providing the level of protection that workers need at various job sites. During the pandemic, OSHA issued 295 violations for 176 COVID-19 related inspections, while 1,679 violations for 756 COVID-19 related inspections were issued under State Plans.
Related Articles
OSHA: Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety 1/23/21
National Strategy for The COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness 1/22/21
More than half of COVID-19 health care workers at risk for mental health problems 1/20/21
Disability for Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 1/1/21
OSHA Temporary Emergency COVID Standard on the Horizon 12/29/20
Vaccine Recommendations: Essential Workers and Seniors12/20/2020
The major phases of COVID-19 12/20/2020
Major increase in work-related deaths reported 12/16/2020
NCCI Reports: NJ Among the Top States with COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Claims 12/09/2020
Trust Through Transparency 12/07/2020
Is the workers' compensation system ready for the 2019-nCoV [coronavirus] virus? Live Updates
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (Thomson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com has been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Blog: Workers ' Compensation
Twitter: jongelman
LinkedIn: JonGelman
LinkedIn Group: Injured Workers Law & Advocacy Group
Author: "Workers' Compensation Law" Thomson-Reuters
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Supplement Benefit Bill for Surviving Dependents of Essential Coronavirus Workers Passed by NJ Legislature
The NJ Legislature has now passed S2476. It provides supplemental benefit payments to the dependents of essential employees who died in the course of employment due to the contraction of coronavirus disease 2019.