You know that a fall from a serious height could be deadly. That’s a risk workers often face in the construction business. For instance, famous rock climber Alex Honnold considers anything over 50 feet to be “the death zone.” He is famous for ropeless climbing, so, if he climbs 3,000 feet of rock, he climbs 2,950 feet in the zone where falling would take his life. You, however, rarely see 50 feet on your construction jobs. That’s about the highest you ever are. Much of the time, working at heights just means being five -10 feet off of the ground. Maybe you use an extension ladder that pushes i ..read more

As a nurse, taking care of your patients is your top responsibility. But you also need to take care of yourself as much as possible while you’re doing it. Musculoskeletal and back injuries are frighteningly common among nurses and caregivers, and many of them come from accidents while lifting patients. What can you do to reduce your risk of a serious injury, however, when you’re pretty much lifting patients all day, every day? Try these tips to make your lifts safer: Plant your feet. A good lift starts with a stable position. Since it’s easier to lift something close to you, try to position y ..read more

If you suffer an amputation injury at work, the emotional side of it can, in some ways, be even more difficult to deal with than the physical issues. You know that you’ll heal to a degree, but you also know that life will never be the same. You wonder about what the future holds and what this injury means for you.  First and foremost, remember that life can still be wonderful and fulfilling after any injury. You do not have to give up on getting what you want out of it. Take, for example, professional climber Tommy Caldwell. He was one of the best in the world when he cut off his finger with a ..read more

Carpal tunnel is a painful repetitive stress injury that can affect the fingers, hands, wrists and forearms. Commonly associated with office workers, carpal tunnel comes from the repetitive use of individual fingers or the curving and gripping of the hands and arms. Office workers and those who work in front of computers are absolutely susceptible to the development of carpal tunnel, especially if they spend long amounts of time on any given day engaging in repetitive motions like typing and continue to perform the same task day after day, year after year. However, carpal tunnel affects many m ..read more

Workplace accidents happen every day in Ohio, and most of the time the results will be minor injuries to the people involved. Unfortunately, sometimes workers suffer severe injuries or even end up dying as a result of workplace accidents.  When that happens, in most cases, the surviving family members of the deceased will have the right to certain benefits through workers’ compensation insurance, including a burial benefit and a death benefit comparable to the disability benefits the worker would have received had they had survived.  In some cases, surviving dependents may also have the option ..read more

You got hurt on the job and — after a few months — it became painfully clear that you were never going to be able to return to work again. You filed for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. Your employer was sympathetic, and your doctor was on your side. Why on earth, then, did the Social Security Administration (SSA) deny your claim? It was probably for one of the following reasons: You’re still working, and you earn too much. Maybe you picked up a side gig for Uber or Lyft while you were waiting on your claim to be approved. Working despite your impairment may be difficult, but you’ve ..read more

Most safety experts agree that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous ones to work in. It sees a high number of workplace accidents and fatal incidents every year. While other jobs may be more dangerous when you look at fatalities per worker — since the construction industry is so massive — those working in construction have to know that their industry takes a staggering number of lives annually. What makes it so dangerous? There are a lot of reasons, some of which are listed below: Construction workers have to use power tools and heavy equipment. These are inherently dangerous ..read more

The COVID-19 virus is rapidly becoming a nightmare for a lot of people, but health care workers are constantly on the front lines of the viral outbreak. That means that they’re most in danger of contracting the infection themselves. Right now, doctors, nurses and other health care employees may not be getting adequate support and protection while they’re on the job. As of March 6, 2020, at least 50 health care employees in one state were ordered to go home due to contact with an infected patient and another 20 in another state were put under observation. Hospitals and medical facilities are be ..read more

Last month, Ohio’s House of Representatives approved a workers’ compensation bill that could allow first responders coverage for PTSD not caused by a physical injury. Currently, first responders’ PTSD must result from a physical injury. The proposal is now before the state Senate, where its fate is not yet clear. Since 2015, when Ohio last considered a similar law, many states have passed such laws. They provide precedents that Ohio advocates lacked five years ago, and they take a wide variety of approaches. Laws often clear path to coverage for some workers Workers’ compensation insurance co ..read more

College can often be a memorable time in a person’s life. It can give them a chance to find their passion, make lifelong friends and learn more about the world around them. But at the same time, college can also come with uncertainties about the future, high academic expectations and feelings of isolation. That’s especially the case for students who are paying their way through school. If these students face severe physical or mental impairments, they may not have the same financial support that other students do. Luckily, some could get assistance through the Social Security Administration (S ..read more