Employees suffering from a work-related injury, disability or illness are often required to have an Independent Medical Exam (or IME). What is an Independent Medical Exam? If you become injured or disabled at work and have an open L&I claim, the Department of Labor and Industries may require you to submit to an Independent Medical Exam. Many workers believe that the exam is impartial owing to the word “independent” in the name of this procedure. Unfortunately, this is not … [Read more...]
For American workers, the Thanksgiving Holiday ends earlier and earlier each year as retailers compete to open their doors before competitors and lure shoppers with product discounts. This year a number of stores moved up their sales launches to intrude on Thursday's national holiday, which was then followed by all-night service on Black Friday. While most American families were coming together to enjoy football, food and company on Thanksgiving morning, Sears opened its doors for early-bird … [Read more...]
Every year, Black Friday (along with the holiday shopping season more generally) brings a reminder of the risk of workplace violence that retail workers face. Measured against most other employment sectors, retail workers are at an increased risk of physical injury or emotional stress from workplace violence. Robbery makes up the greatest number of violent incidents experienced by retail workers, with the majority of these crimes involving a deadly weapon. Employees working at convenience … [Read more...]
For many kids who grow up on the farm, "learning to drive" means learning to operate a tractor or other farm machinery even before driving a car. Tractors are central to family farm life, and for this reason advocacy groups and members of Congress have responded critically to recent proposals from the U.S. Department of Labor that would prohibit children under 16 from many dangerous farm tasks, including driving tractors and handling pesticides. The reaction was so intense that on Monday, the … [Read more...]
L&I to Take Public Comments on New Workplace Safety Law
The Department of Labor & Industries plans to host two separate hearings for public comment on a draft rule that would require employers to attend to major safety hazards immediately after receiving an L&I citation, even if that business appeals L&I’s citation. The only exceptions given would be if a stay is granted to an employer by L&I or the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. Within Washington State, businesses that receive citations for violating workplace safety … [Read more...]