Philadelphia Workers' Compensation Blog

Your workplace accident left you with a painful recovery, lost wages and questions about your future. After applying for Pennsylvania workers' compensation, you thought all you had to do was follow the instructions of your doctor and insurer to secure the benefits you needed to protect your family from financial crisis.

You probably didn't expect the workers' compensation claims process to be as tedious and uncertain as it was, including paperwork, interviews and seeking medical care from approved doctors. After all that, the insurer arrived at an offer of benefits based on your medical bills, missed work and disability. You now have some decisions to make about accepting the offer or pursuing a higher amount.

Toxic gasses are the primary threat to workers in Pennsylvania and around the country who perform their duties in confined spaces. After investigating the circumstances surrounding 670 confined space workplace deaths, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that atmospheric hazards played a role in about 56 percent of them. The most common dangerous gases found in confined spaces include carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide according to NIOSH.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines confined spaces as areas with restricted access that are not designed for prolonged occupancy but are large enough to perform work assignments. Examples of confined spaces include tanks, silos, storage bins and tanks. The agency requires employers to monitor the air quality in these areas frequently and keep them well ventilated. Toxic fumes can cause incapacity extremely quickly, which is why OSHA regulations call for trained rescue teams to be on hand when workers enter confined spaces.

Construction workers in Pennsylvania face unique dangers on the job during the winter months. Freezing temperatures and slippery surfaces from ice and snow compel workers and employers to take extra safety precautions during winter, according to experts. Preparation for the oncoming cold can begin before winter.

Roadways and parking areas that have potholes or uneven surfaces cannot be fixed when the ground is frozen. Pre-season maintenance of road surfaces can prevent the problem icy surfaces in winter from being compounded by potholes and other surface problems. Site inspections prior to winter should also include considerations for issues that are unique to cold weather, such as tools or equipment that may not work correctly in freezing temperatures.

Work can be a dangerous place for construction workers in Pennsylvania and across the country. Because employees in construction handle heavy equipment and deal with incomplete structures, workplace accidents can be devastating. One area of construction is particularly dangerous for employees: trenching and excavation projects. The nature of these projects makes them vulnerable to cave-in and collapse, and too many employers don't abide by safety regulations. The number of fatalities on the job related to trenching projects has drawn concern at a federal level.

From 2011 through 2016, 130 workers were killed while engaged in trenching or excavation projects. Even more concerning, 49 percent of those deaths took place between 2015 and 2016 alone. In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that inspections, education and enforcement related to these projects were national priorities. OSHA has already taken action to enforce workplace safety rules. One company was fined $400,000 for safety violations involved in trench cave-ins while another firm was fined $250,000 for failing to use cave-in protective systems while workers were in the trenches.