PHILADELPHIA AREA WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWYER

A wide range of industries in Pennsylvania are seeing an increase in the number of employees with some form of hearing loss. Such employees are at a higher risk for injury because they have difficulty communicating and hearing alarms and other warning sounds, especially when they are wearing hearing protection. While they are subject to the same OSHA regulations as other workers, OSHA does have recommendations when it comes to hearing protectors.

Hearing protectors are able to enhance audibility while still protecting workers from excessive noise levels. One type is called the passive uniform-attenuation hearing protector; it reduces sounds at all frequencies, not just high frequencies, which are the frequencies where much of human speech resides. Another is the active level-dependent hearing protector, which requires a power source.

Pennsylvania companies have a legal obligation to provide employees with a safe place to work. That means heeding regulations published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, among other requirements. OSHA has issued reminders for companies that have employees working in hot conditions to prevent heat illness. Employers are required by OSHA standards to establish heat illness prevention programs. The key elements of such programs are rest, water, and shade.

According to an assistant director with an OSHA training institute, more than 40% of worker deaths that are heat-related happen on construction sites, and most heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable. If workers are not drinking enough water or getting enough rest in shaded areas, their body temperature can rise to dangerously high levels, leading in some cases to heat stroke or heat exhaustion. This is especially true on work sites where hot weather is combined with high humidity levels.

If you suffered injuries while you were at work, you understand how complicated your life can become. You may have to miss work while you are in the hospital with injuries or at home recovering, which will have a direct impact on your paycheck. After a few days or even weeks of missed work, you could find yourself in a seriously precarious financial situation. 

Pennsylvania workers who are in an accident at work or who become ill as a result of their jobs may have a rightful claim to financial support through a workers' compensation claim. If you find yourself in this position, securing help during this difficult time is critical. It can be devastating to learn that your claim came back denied. Fortunately, it is not the end of the road for you 

It is not uncommon to hear about McDonald's employees having to deal with angry customers while at work. Recently, employees have asked OSHA to look into these incidents and how the company has handled them. The workers want the workplace watchdog organization to assess how McDonald's responds to workplace violence in stores throughout Pennsylvania and rest the country. According to the National Employment Law Project, there have been 271 media reports of violence at various locations in the past three years.

However, police records indicate that there are many cases that are not reported. In some cases, employees have been threatened with guns and have had to call 911 for assistance. The workers who have filed the complaint with OSHA say that management has discouraged using 911 as it could have negative consequences for the company. OSHA has recommended that McDonald's take steps to keep workers safe during late night hours.