Slidell Workers' Compensation Law Blog

In July 2018, the Guardian launched an investigation into claims of adverse conditions at Amazon warehouses. There have been multiple claims from former employees that they were treated improperly by management after getting hurt on the job. Many of these workers, some of whom could be in Louisiana, may be left without injury benefits.

Amazon currently runs more than 140 fulfillment centers across the U.S., and it employs over 560,000 people worldwide. A spokesperson insists that the company's employee safety is a top priority, but former employees tell a different story. Some report that Amazon warehouse conditions left them excessively fatigued and exhausted and that they chose to quit rather than put themselves at risk for an accident.

Louisiana workers whose duties might expose them to crystalline silica dust should expect their employers to comply with the new safety standards developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The agency had delayed full enforcement of the rules meant to prevent unhealthy exposures to respirable dust until July 23 for companies showing a good faith effort to comply with regulations. With full enforcement now in effect, employers will need to offer their workers medical surveillance under certain circumstances to detect silica disease early.

Employers must provide medical evaluations at no cost to employees when silica dust exceeds permissible levels for 30 or more days during a 12-month period. The 30 days do not have to be consecutive. Dust exposure that occurred while working with a previous employer will not carry over to count toward the 30 days with a current employer.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has published a new report that may be of interest to Louisiana miners. Black lung disease, caused by the inhalation of coal mine dust, has long been a problem with people in the mining industry. Despite advances in technology, there has been a steady increase in black lung cases across the nation.

The report goes into the ways that companies can reduce exposure to respirable coal dust. This could be done after a careful monitoring of the mine via a continuous personal dust monitor. However, these monitors have several issues. For instance, they may include limestone and other materials in their measurements. In addition, cost and size may keep many miners from wearing them.

An accident doesn't have to be fatal to have an impact on a Louisiana workers's health. Accidents resulting in worker injuries can also have negative consequences for employers as it can result in less productivity. According to the CDC Foundation, workplace accidents nationwide cost employers $220 billion annually. However, connected devices could help keep workers safe, especially those who work alone.

The use of sensors, wearable devices and GPS tracking allows companies to create and monitor data in real-time. This data can then be used to see potential hazards and ultimately minimize or eliminate risks. Employees can wear devices that monitor their health as they work in inclement weather or other dangerous conditions. In addition, these tools can monitor a worker's temperature and heart rate to make sure that they are within safe ranges.