Pennsylvania: No Vested Rights in Pay Increase For Workers
Pennsylvanian workers’ compensation judges, considered management-level government employees, have recently gone to court regarding raises that were given to them and then later rescinded by the government. A three percent raise was instituted in March of 2008 and then recalled in Dec. of 2008 due to difficulties with the state...
Has new bicycle law made for a ‘win’ on Pennsylvania roads?
What makes a law successful? It has been more than a year since Pennsylvania enacted a traffic safety law intended to prevent bicycle accidents. Motorists are required to leave at least four feet of space between their vehicles and a bike. Not dong so would result in a fine. Few...
Family challenges use of robot as medical malpractice
The dependence on technology reaches into just about every aspect of life. People tend to put a lot of faith in machines, as though they are infallible. But technology comes with glitches, and a family in an out-of-state case believes that the untimely loss of their loved one is partly...
Construction worker killed by fall
A construction worker was killed as a result of a fall at a farm in Pennsylvania. The 28-year old man was working on trusses of a barn that was being constructed when the construction accident happened. The man fell 25 feet onto the construction site below. The fall happened during...
SUVs put through special crash safety test; most fail
What inspires you to purchase a vehicle? Do you base your buying decision on the looks of a vehicle? Is it all about the budget and getting a good deal? If you are like many parents, it is likely that you’d choose you family vehicle based on safety ratings, space...
Is change to drunk driving limit the way to prevent U.S. crashes?
The nation is buzzing with conversations regarding the National Transportation Safety Board’s recent discussion about drunk driving in the U.S. It is no secret that driving drunk is a traffic safety problem, putting motorists in Pennsylvania in danger of being hurt or killed in alcohol-related accidents every day. The NTSB...
On-the-job deaths exceed 50,000 per year
The AFL-CIO released a report at the beginning of May that indicated about 13 people died on the job each day in 2011. In addition, work-related illnesses claimed the lives about 137 individuals per day during the same year. The number of fatalities on the job initially declined after the...
Cancer is leading disability among U.S. workers
Various types of injuries and illnesses can keep someone from working. Unum, an insurance provider, reports that there is a leading cause among workers who file disability claims. Not only is cancer impacting individuals on personal, emotional, medical and family levels; it is preventing U.S. workers’ abilities to return to...
On-the-job safety needs national improvement
Pennsylvania residents know that May Day and, by association, the entire month, is connected with the rights of workers around the globe. Employees in Bangladesh, for example, seek justice after 400 individuals died when a building collapsed. Other workers look for benefits, increased money or better conditions at their jobs...
Drunk driver who killed motorcyclist didn’t have valid license
After a certain amount of time on this earth, every person knows that accidents do happen. Bad things happen even to good people. That is the truth with just the natural state of things. When people go out of their way and create danger, it’s reasonable for the public to...
Misdiagnosis can allow cancer to worsen and shorten lives
Patients and society in general are seemingly starting to question the quality of their medical treatment more these days. They might seek second or third opinions. Maybe they will do a thorough examination of their doctor’s background. The threat of medical mistakes and the toll that they can take on...
Teens’ risk-taking tendencies cause distracted driving concern
It is a validated fear: Teens make dangerous and irresponsible decisions. Sure, it is worrying if a teen chooses to try smoking. It is worrying if a teen decides not to do his homework because his video games were just too tempting the night before. It is alarming, however, if...
Motorcycle safety: Not just about helmets
Wearing a motorcycle helmet is not likely to hurt anyone if they get into a motorcycle accident. Therefore, many bikers might think it is a worthwhile investment to buy a helmet and a worthwhile habit to wear the head protection during their joyrides. But would those “joyrides” be less joyful...
Disney contractor fined $60,000 after worker hurt
Employers from Pennsylvania to California are considering the implications after a contractor for Disney was fined almost $61,000 by Cal/OSHA on April 19 after they violated a number of safety rules. A 37-year-old contractor sustained broken bones in Nov. 2012 while working on the Space Mountain attraction when the ropes...