Safety/Health

Does workers’ comp cover injuries an employee suffers at a work-related social event?

01/24/2014

Q. Is an employee who injures himself at a company-sponsored picnic eligible for workers’ compensation?

Be alert for health, safety whistle-blowing

01/24/2014

Here’s a warning for federal government employers: Just about any internal complaint about agency wrongdoing may be protected activity under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA).

OSHA launches online whistle-blower complaint form

01/22/2014

OSHA now offers whistle-blowers an online complaint form. Until now, whistle-blowers had to either write or call OSHA. The online form is designed to provide workers who have been retaliated against an additional way to reach out for OSHA assistance.

Gaines’ loss: Over $1 million for whistle-blower violations

01/03/2014

OSHA has ordered Gaines Motor Lines, a Hickory-based freight hauling company, to reinstate three workers and pay $1,070,123 in back pay wages, interest, compensatory and punitive damages to four former employees who warned about safety problems.

Minnesota’s workplace injury rates remain low

12/23/2013

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for 2012 contains good news. The results showed just a slight uptick in injuries from the all-time low posted in 2011.

Whoa! Never saw that one coming! You’re not responsible for aberrant crime

12/10/2013

Unless it’s obvious that an employer acted maliciously by purposely setting out to harm an employee, chances are it won’t be held responsible for the consequences of a co-worker’s crime.

Isolated attack not grounds for harassment lawsuit

11/27/2013

Employers can control some hazardous work conditions, but not all of them. What a particular customer or client may do when he comes in contact with an employee likely falls into the uncontrollable category.

Can we ban e-cigarettes?

11/19/2013

Q. Over the past few months I have been seeing more and more electronic cigarettes in our city. Last week, an employee walked into our office while smoking an electronic cigarette. I’d like to ban their use in our offices. I’ve heard that e-cigarettes are just as addictive as the real things.

Employer restrictions on guns in California workplaces

10/29/2013

This month, we’ll examine several questions about how far employers can go toward prohibiting employees from bringing guns to work.

Cal-OSHA law applies even to tiny businesses