Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced this week that it has planned to extend the comment period through March 8, 2014 on the proposed rule to improve workplace safety through the development of enhanced tracking of reported workplace injuries and illnesses.
The period was extended by 30 days in response to a request submitted by the National Association of Home Builders. According to a press release released by OSHA, the proposed rule would seek to modify the current regulations for recordkeeping and add additional requirements for the electronic submission of any injuries or illness information that employers are already required to keep on file.
OSHA’s mission is to keep employees safe from injury and illness. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are ultimately responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure that these standards are adhered to by employers through enforcement, and by providing training, education and assistance.
What To Do If You Are Injured In Workplace Incident
The first, and most obvious thing anyone who has been injured in a workplace incident should do, is seek immediate medical assistance for his/her injuries. Next, the individual will need to figure out whether his or her employer will compensate the injuries under workers’ compensation. Massachusetts’ workers’ compensation laws were established as a way to guarantee benefits for workers who are hurt on the job-regardless of whether he or she was the one who caused the incident. These benefits typically provide coverage of medical costs, any disability payments, 60% of the worker’s average income (or potentially greater if the injury resulted in permanent disability or death), compensation for permanent disfigurement or scars, vocational retraining if the injury prevents the worker from returning to his/her original position, as well as compensation for immediate family members of workers who were killed on the job.
The purpose of this “guarantee” is to ensure that workers will not sue their employers should an incident occur. However, sometimes receiving these compensation benefits is difficult. In these types of cases it is in a worker’s best interest to contact an experienced Boston Workers’ Compensation Attorney to discuss filing a workers’ compensation claim.
At the law offices of Altman & Altman, LLP, our team of seasoned workers’ compensation attorneys has nearly five decades of experience handling all types of personal injury and workers’ compensation, and we have continued to have a proven track record of success. Our knowledgeable staff has all of the necessary resources to help you achieve the highest possible settlement for your case, as well as providing you with contacts for the best possible treatment of your injuries in the Commonwealth.
If you or a loved one was recently involved in a workplace incident, and are unsure of what your next step should be, do not hesitate to contact us. Our attorneys are available around the clock to assist you with answering any questions you have about your case, and all initial consultation are completely free and confidential.
