If you are hurt on the job, you will likely be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In exchange for accepting these benefits, you agree to not bring a lawsuit against your employer for any injuries suffered. Workers’ comp covers most work-related injuries, but there are certain rules you must follow…
Articles Posted in Workers’ Compensation
Is My Repetitive Stress Injury Work Related?
Repetitive stress injuries—including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis—are extremely common, can be debilitating, and are often sustained on the job. In fact, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 100 types of repetitive stress injuries may occur in the workplace. In order to obtain workers’ compensation…
Even Minor Work Injuries Can be Costly and Disruptive
In hazard-prone work environments, such as manufacturing plants, it’s not uncommon for minor safety protocols to get overlooked in favor of more serious concerns. For example, while wearing a hard hat to protect against head injuries may be a non-negotiable, employees often forego wearing cut-resistant gloves; it’s not like hand…
Workers’ Compensation Claims – What are Waiting Periods and Retroactive Periods?
When workers are injured or become ill on the job, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are paid out of an insurance policy held by the employer which protects both employer and employee. The employee is generally entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses and a…
Hand Injuries in the Workplace
Work-related injuries can occur in any occupation, from secretaries and librarians to construction workers and miners. You don’t have to be working in a “dangerous industry” to get injured. In fact, repetitive motion injuries are most common among office workers. Repetitive motion injuries often affect the hand and arm, causing…
Is PTSD Covered by Workers’ Compensation in MA?
Most work-related injuries and illnesses are covered by workers’ compensation, but not all injuries are easy to prove. This is especially true of emotional disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A worker who experiences something traumatic or horrific on the job may develop symptoms of PTSD,…
Winter Safety for Massachusetts Construction Workers
It’s cold outside. Really cold. For those who have to work outside in the elements, the cold can be more than just a nuisance. It can be deadly. Winter 2018 is expected to be one of the coldest in years. Even so, some people have no choice but to brave…
My Workers’ Compensation Claim Was Denied – What Do I Do?
Workers’ compensation exists to protect employees if they are unable to work due to a work-related injury, and employers from being sued for those injuries. Most work-related injuries and illnesses are covered by workers’ comp, but there are some exceptions. Further, even claims for covered injuries and illnesses may be…
Mesothelioma in the Workplace – It’s Not a Thing of the Past
Mesothelioma is a particularly-deadly type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue surrounding multiple organs in the human body. As the most commonly-affected area is the lining around the lungs and chest wall, shortness of breath is often one of the first symptoms. That being said,…
Three MA Companies Reach Agreement with OSHA Following Worker Injury
In May 2016, an employee of the Shield Packaging Co. Inc. was seriously injured when he was accidentally injected with a flammable propellant gas. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) investigation into the incident revealed that the Dudley, MA company violated multiple safety protocols. In addition to failing to…