Pacific Workers Compensation Law Center September 2019

Pacific Post September 2019

Hazardous Professions & Industries Work Hard and Stay Safe

Health Services

We face dangers in our lives whether we realize it or not, like texting while driving or riding motorcycles, but there are several industries where employees face real dangers just by doing their jobs. Here are just some of the most dangerous industries and what makes them so hazardous. Construction The construction industry is infamous for its many associated risks. Employees often work with hazardous materials and manipulate them at high altitudes. It’s easy to imagine a 30-story building being slowly put together, but it’s harder to imagine being a worker up there, installing windows or sidewalls on the very top floor with little to no support. This type of hazardous labor increases risk of injury, and even death, exponentially. In just the United States alone, more than 50% of all work- related accidents are a result of falls with older workers. The construction industry has taken steps to decrease these risks by requiring hard hats, safety glasses, and reflective clothing, but it will be many more years before the rate of injury drops considerably.

While it might not be one that most would initially think of, the health services industry is rife with risk. Health care professionals take on so much behind the scenes that I’m sure when they happily greet us at a hospital, people hardly register the dangers associated with their daily activities. The long hours and stressful environments can take a toll on anyone, and studies have shown that even prolonged exposure to sick patients can cause infections and illness (both mild and serious) in health care professionals. Hospitals go to great lengths to maintain sterile environments, but unfortunately, even small injuries, such as accidental needle pricks, are all too common. A good procedure to implement is regularly scheduled employee health checks to reduce and even avoid serious health risks. Manufacturing The manufacturing industry has a broad realm of related industries, from food to furniture, but with those tangent industries comes a laundry list of risks. Most manufacturing professionals operate heavy machinery, handle hazardous materials, and encounter malfunctions and common mishaps with all sorts of industry tools. Technology has been a huge boon to the manufacturing industry and has allowed safeguards and automations to be put in place to protect employees and decrease risk. However, there will always be need for protection as long as people are still involved in the manufacturing process. While accidents don’t happen all the time, the risks associated with these professions cannot be ignored. Know that if you ever fall victim to an accident in these industries and need proper representation, we are at your service. To find out more about what we can do for you, give us a call at 833-722-9675 or visit our website anytime at PacificWorkers.com.

“Health care professionals take on so much behind the scenes that I’m sure when they happily greet us at a hospital, we would hardly register the dangers associated with their daily activities.”

833-722-9675 • 1 –The Lawyers For Injured Workers

Case Duration At Pacific Workers’ Comp, we get a variety of questions when opening a case, and we do our best to address all of them in an efficient manner. Here are two looming questions we can hopefully answer and put some of your immediate worries to rest. How long does a case take?

Case duration is something we get asked about frequently, but unfortunately, there is no direct answer. We typically tell our clients it will take around 12–18 months due to the many factors that can affect a case’s timeline. The two biggest factors are the difficulties of working with insurance companies and defense attorneys and the victim’s recovery.

The NFL’s Newest Rule Changes to Decrease Concussions A Head Above

Prior to the 2018 National Football League (NFL) season, the league administration introduced two rules aimed at preventing concussions: Players are no longer allowed to “wedge” block — players running shoulder-to-shoulder into another player — during kick-offs, and they can’t lower their helmets when they tackle. Fans and players complained about the “soft” stance the NFL took on the gritty play football was built on. Most notably, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was subjected to a game-costing “roughing the passer” penalty for tackling in a way that would have been allowed in years prior. The NFL reported that it would be using Matthews’ hit as a teaching tape. Despite the backlash, offseason reports may suggest that these rules have influenced concussion rates. The NFL reported a 24% decline in the number of concussions between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, lowering the total from 281 in 2017 to 214 in 2018 when combined with preseason play. In the regular season alone, the number of reported concussions was 135 compared to 190 from the year prior. However, it’s worth noting that 2017 saw high recorded rates of concussions. Figures going as far back as 2012 indicate that 2017 was one of the most concussed years in recent football history. Still, NFL and medical officials point to 2018’s decrease in concussions as a positive sign that league initiatives are working. Officials say the new rules helped push the numbers down, and the use of more sideline concussion protocol testing and increased advanced helmet technology aided in this boost. The NFL reported that 74% of its players were now wearing its latest protective headgear, a 33% increase from 2017. According to USA Today, the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, also indicated that medical teams across the league performed more sideline concussion tests than any year prior and saw a 75% decrease in diagnosing. The league is considering testing mouthguard technology that would give medical teams more information for diagnosing concussions. As we prepare for another season of football, there’s no telling what 2019’s numbers will show about the NFL’s latest safety protocols, but if 2018 was any indication, they just might be headed in the right direction.

Workers with a severe injury or a complicated case will typically have to fight longer due to medical or liability disputes. Finding the right doctor could make the difference in a case’s duration. Doctors and other medical professionals deal with the bureaucratic process just to even help their patients, which is a time-consuming task in itself. Even when everything does fall into place between doctors, lawyers, and insurance companies, the shortest time frame you could see is six months.

Cacio e Pepe

Italian for “cheese and pepper,” cacio e pepe is like a refined version of mac and cheese. It’s crowd-pleasing enough to satisfy the pickiest eaters and refined enough to sate the foodies.

Ingredients: •

6 oz pasta, ideally spaghetti or bucatini 3 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed and divided 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

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3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano-Reggiano 1/3 cup finely grated pecorino cheese Kosher salt, for pasta water and to taste

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Directions: 1. In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stopping 2 minutes short of desired doneness. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water. 2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add pepper and cook until toasted and aromatic, about 1 minute. Add reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer pasta and remaining butter to pan and reduce heat to low. Add Parmesan cheese and cook until melted, tossing pasta throughout. Remove pan from heat and add pecorino, continuing to toss until cheese is melted and sauce coats pasta. 4. Transfer to bowls and serve.

Inspired by Bon Appétit

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Expectations

Mental Health in the Workplace

What outcome should I expect?

Among other factors, the outcome of a workers’ compensation case will rely heavily on the type and severity of injury, the quality of your representation, and the insurance company you’re dealing with. While some companies and claim adjusters are fair and easy to work with, there are others that will do everything they can to save money and restrict the right of the injured worker. An ideal outcome is adequate medical treatment and compensation for the time the victim has missed at work, without the need for court intervention. However, it’s common for insurance companies to fight the injured party every step of the way. Eventually, you can expect proper medical care and compensation for your disability, though it’s rare to see large monetary awards from workers’ comp cases,

Can I Open Claims for Stress at Work?

There is some ambiguity in regards to if stress is an adequate reason to file a claim, but the short answer is yes, absolutely! Your mental health and well-being is just as important as your physical health. If you suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, or any other mental condition due to the strain of work or as a result of a work-related injury, you can file a workers’ compensation claim and expect to gain compensation for your medical care. Psychological injuries and trauma caused by violence or harassment in the workplace can be as debilitating as any physical injury. Even psychological strain due to a work-related injury is reason enough to open a claim. If you have suffered mental strain due to workplace violence, know you’re not alone. The rate of these reports has been increasing at a staggering rate. In 2016 alone, there were 16,890 workers in the private industry reporting to have experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence. In 2017, there were as many as 18,400 injuries and 458 fatalities caused by workplace violence. While these numbers are alarming, it’s commonplace for companies to under-report nonfatal injuries and illnesses. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has stated that 2 million individuals each year report some type of workplace violence, and it is estimated that 25% of all workplace violence goes unreported entirely. According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workplace violence falls into one of four categories: criminal intent, customer/client, worker-on-worker, and personal relationship. If you have been subjected to such treatment, seek the support and help you deserve. Individuals who have experienced trauma can have a hard time navigating through the maze that is the workers’ compensation system, but don’t feel lost when filing a claim; you don’t have to do this alone. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your mental health in a workers compensation case, please contact us at 833-722-9675 or visit our website anytime at PacificWorkers.com.

which is why settlements occur often in these situations.

If you or a loved one have further questions on case duration and expectations, feel free to reach out to us anytime. We will be happy to answer any and all concerns you have.

Sudoku

Solution on Page 4.

833-722-9675 • 3

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Inside This Issue

Work Hard While Staying Safe

NFL Lowers Concussion Rates in 2018

How Long a Case Takes & What to Expect

Cacio e Pepe

Mental Health in the Workplace

Crazy Homes Not Built by Architects

The World’s Wackiest Homes Designed by Their Owners

Bat Casa, San Miguel, Mexico The best word to describe this home is probably “anatomical.”That’s certainly the aesthetic movie set designer and Bat Casa resident Steve Rood was going for. The staircase looks like human vertebrae, skeletal hands act as towel hooks in the bathroom, and tendril-like fixtures surround the living room couch. Perhaps the most out-of-character addition to the house is a large mural of the bat symbol painted on the garage door, which is the origin of the property’s name. Hobbit House, Inverness-Shire, Scotland Surprisingly, Stuart Grant’s cozy forest cottage was not inspired by the hobbit holes of “Lord of the Rings.” In fact, Grant built it over 15 years before the first movie was released. Still, it’s hard not to imagine some magical creature taking up residence in this house, which appears to be an extension of the forest itself. Gnarled tree trunks frame a circular door, moss coats the roof, and ivy covers most of the walls, all belying a cozy interior fit for many a hobbit meal or dwarf song. These homes may not be for everyone, but that’s kind of the point. Each of these homes was built by a specific resident, for a specific resident. Still, you can’t help but be impressed by the determination of their owners to make something truly one of a kind.

It doesn’t always take a master architect to create

a breathtaking home. Some homeowners have shunned suburban domiciles and, with

a little artistic vision and a lot of determination, built homes that capture their

identities. Quirky, meticulously constructed, and always unique, here are a few of the world’s wackiest homes designed, and sometimes built, by their owners.

Freedom Cove, British Columbia, Canada

When someone says they live on the water, they probably don’t mean they actually live on the water. But for artists Wayne Adams and Catherine King, the statement is literal. Freedom Cove, their remote, magenta-green island home, floats in Clayoquot Sound near Vancouver Island. They started building it from old, interlocking steel docks in 1991, and now it includes 15 platforms, four greenhouses, a guest house, an art workshop, and more.

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