Back in October, our workers' compensation defense blog reported on a horrific industrial accident at a food processing plant here in Southern California that took the life of one worker and left the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) searching for answers.
Bill closing work comp loophole for pro athletes clears Assembly
Over the last several months, our workers’ compensation defense blog has been closely monitoring the showdown between team owners and former professional athletes over Assembly Bill 1309, a bill designed to limit the latter’s access to work comp benefits here in California.
Bill closing work comp loophole for pro athletes approved by Assembly committee
The matchup between team owners and former professional athletes over reform of the workers' compensation system here in California now sits at 1-0 after an important committee vote held in Sacramento earlier this week.
Bill calls for Michigan to join ranks of states granting work comp for firefighter cancer
In workers' compensation defense news, lawmakers in the state of Michigan are currently considering a bill that would extend much-needed benefits to those firefighters who develop a potentially deadly disease that many believe can be traced to the inherently dangerous nature of their profession.
Former athletes gather in Sacramento to speak out against bill closing work comp loophole
Last month, Assemblyman Henry Perea (D-Fresno) unveiled legislation designed to amend the state labor code such that the legal loophole allowing professional athletes from out-of-state organizations to seek work comp benefits here in California would be effectively closed.
Needles, sharp surgical objects pose serious injury risk to medical professionals
At first blush, you may not think that operating rooms and construction sites, warehouses or other industrial settings have much in common. While this is obviously true from a functional perspective, these work sites actually all do share a common thread: an elevated risk of work injuries.
WCIRB: No mid-year increase in work comp case rates
In workers' compensation defense news, the governing committee of the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California -- the organization that advises the state's Insurance Commissioner on workers' compensation base rates -- convened for a meeting in San Francisco yesterday to discuss a possible rate change.
State lawmaker introduces bill closing work comp loophole for out-of-state athletes
A few weeks ago, we discussed how thousands of former professional athletes have been filing work comp claims in California since the 1980s despite having ever played only a few games here.
Lawmakers in southwestern state block bill concerning intoxication and work comp benefits
In a very interesting workers' compensation defense story out of New Mexico, state legislators recently voted down a bill designed to grant judges the ability to deny work comp benefits to intoxicated employees.
All eyes on Sacramento as deadline to introduce work comp related bills only hours away
The California State Assembly and State Senate made history last year when they passed Senate Bill 863 on the last day of the legislative session. The bill marked the first time since 2004 that state lawmakers choose to initiate a massive overhaul of the state's billion dollar work comp system.
