A report released by AFL-CIO shows that in 2010, 13 workplace fatalities occurred each day. This high daily amount accumulated to 4,690 workplace deaths in 2010.

An additional 50,000 people succumbed to diseases in 2010 that were believed to have been contracted while working. All of the states were individually researched to determine the fatality rate, and West Virginia was determined to have one of the highest rates, while Rhode Island and California had some of the lowest.

The national fatality rate in 2010 was 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers across the country. In that same year, a total of 3.8 million workers across all types of occupations suffered from some sort of injury they sustained while on the job. These job injuries can cost upwards of $250 billion each year in the United States.

If you have suffered from an injury due to a workplace accident, please contact the Pennsylvania workplace injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has released information regarding the correlation between lack of sleep and the quality of job performance.

Several studies related to sleep and work are underway in the United States, and the information that is available surrounding these issues reveals that almost 30 percent of Americans do not sleep enough hours on a nightly basis. The research shows that sleeping six hours or fewer than six hours during a person’s work week can lead to poor work performance, and an increased risk of getting injured while at work.

Employers are advised to schedule shifts for their employees that allow them to acquire an adequate amount of sleep on a nightly basis. The right amount of sleep can make a large difference in an individual’s skill set while on the job.

If you have been injured on the job, please contact the Pennsylvania workplace injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.

A California man who is currently making a living as a professional mixed martial arts fighter could face possible jail time if convicted of workers’ compensation fraud.

Raphael “The Noodle” Davis was allegedly receiving workers’ compensation benefits for more than two years while participating in fights during that time. Davis, who was employed as a Los Angeles firefighter, claimed that he was unable to earn a living, and therefore began receiving the payments.

Davis fought in seven different fights while he was still collecting the workers’ compensation insurance. He was arrested on April 10, and is currently out on $30,000 bail. If he is convicted of the charges against him, Davis could spend up to five years behind bars.

If you have questions regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.

The second of two men who were critically injured in a plant explosion passed away yesterday inside a burn unit at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.

An explosion took place at the Struthers waste plant in Ohio, and two employees that were working in the compressor room were severely burned. The men sustained serious burns that almost covered their entire bodies. They were immediately taken to the Pittsburgh hospital where they remained in the burn unit.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has launched an investigation into this explosion, and are searching for the cause of the accident. They are interviewing Struthers employees to learn more information about the fatal workplace accident.

We would like to offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims at this time.

Walmart has opted to remove itself from Texas’ workers’ compensation program, and privately fund it’s own plan. This switch came in late March, and raises many concerns across the state.

Businesses who offer their own workers’ compensation coverage usually end up saving money due to obtaining a higher liability per employee. The benefits they distribute are usually lower as a result. In the United States, Texas is the only state that does not have a certain standard on business size in regards to state-regulated workers’ compensation coverage.

Critics of this transition reveal that more and more companies still under the state regulations will feel obligated to figure out ways to save costs for their businesses as well. The amount of money that an injured Walmart employee would be able to receive in the state of Texas under the new workers’ compensation program has been drastically reduced when compared to the state program’s amount.

Please contact the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 if you or someone you know has questions pertaining to workers’ compensation benefits or workplace injuries.

Tsudis Chocolate Company, located near Pittsburg, has been fined by the OSHA for the amount of $84,150.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that the improper securing of machinery led to a workplace accident in the candy factory. An employee was injured last October while he was attempting to set up a molding machine. The machine accidentally turned on, and caused severe head injuries to the man.

The man received an eight-inch gash to his head, and also nerve damage in his face and neck. The fines that OSHA issued the company are in regards to the workplace safety violations. The candy company has yet to comment on the fines.

Please contact the Pennsylvania workplace injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511, if you or someone you know has been injured while on the job.

A workplace accident that occurred on Monday in Salem, Virginia has left one employee dead.

The accident took place around 9:45 a.m. at a steel operation company. The employee was working at New Millenium Building Systems when he was struck by one of the steel trusses at the company that weighed approximately 8,000 pounds. His legs were trapped underneath the large object.

He was taken by helicopter to be treated, and succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted. The man’s name has not been released, because his family members are still being notified of the incident.

Our thoughts are with the employee’s family and friends during this tragic time.

A 53-year-old Scranton man and his 44-year-old wife have been arrested on charges of bribery and conspiracy in regards to a workers’ compensation fraud scheme.

The man was employed at the State Workers’ Insurance Fund, and he falsely informed business owners that he could cut their premium costs on workers’ compensation insurance in return for kickbacks. Authorities are investigating these claims, and have found paperwork revealing numerous reductions the state employee illegally made for several companies.

The couple ran their scheme between 1999 and 2011, and during that time were able to earn upwards of $80,000 through kickbacks. Charges that have been filed against them include: two counts of conspiracy, five counts of bribery, and six counts of conflict of interest.

If you  have questions regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.

Each year in the United States, upwards of 26,000 children and adolescents are injured on farms. This large number accounts for $1.4 billion in costs, including loss of income and medical coverage.

According to new research that was conducted based on injury studies between 2001 and 2006, one third of the agricultural accidents were due to work-related incidents. Of the 26,000 injuries that were recorded, 84 of them were fatal.

The research also shows that in 2001, 14 percent of the injuries sustained by children on farms and ranches resulted in hospitalization, compared to only 1.4 percent of the overall child injuries in the United States. These results show that children and adolescents living on farms and ranches have a higher probability of becoming injured.

Sustaining an injury while working can be costly and time consuming. It is important to understand your options if you have been injured while on the job. Please contact the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 610-667-7511 today.

The packer of Hershey chocolates, a logistics contractor named Exel, has been cited by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for multiple health and safety violations.

The fines against Exel total to over $283,000 for breaking six willful violations that involved failing to report workers injuries for nearly four years. Other violations include failing to evaluate nearly 300 logs before they were certified and for not implementing a ‘hearing conservation programme.’

During the four year period, OSHA found that nearly 40 workers were injured and it was not reported properly. Exel was also cited for three other minor violations and they will have 15 days to reply to comply or contest the citations.

If you or a loved one has been injured at work, you need representation on your side that may be able to help you receive the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve. Contact Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 610-667-7511 today.