Denver Workers' Compensation Blog

Protections from the hazards of warehouse work

On behalf of Eley Law Firm posted in Workplace Injuries on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Warehouse employment has risen 90% since the year 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The reason, of course, is e-commerce. With this sudden surge in online business, many distributors are eager to tap into the profit stream.

Whenever there is an industry boom, we learn invaluable lessons about humanity. One thing we learned from the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression is that the American Dream is not just the securing of employment, but employment that protects it's workers health and safety.

Local construction firms fined $200,000 after employee death

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Most individuals who work construction are familiar with doing their jobs a good ways above the ground. Working on a ladder or on a roof comes with the territory. How else will someone nail shingles, run wires, replace siding and any other multitude of jobs? This is an inherently dangerous part of the job, and why there are series of safety practices in place. When companies shirk these practices, tragedy often strikes.

That was the situation last spring in Greenwood Village when a construction worker fell to their death while on a job. The worker, who remains unnamed, was busy installing metal roofing panels on a storage building when they lost their footing and plummeted to the ground.

Patients cared for on the backs of nurses

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Sunday, September 9, 2018.

Nurses and nursing assistants have difficult jobs that include long hours and intense physical activity. Caring for patients is strenuous work.

In fact, nursing is such a grueling occupation that its risk for workplace injury is often higher than many other occupations. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hospitals in the U.S. recorded 6.8 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees in 2011, almost twice the rate for the entirety of private industry.

Most common reasons workers get injured on the job

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Friday, September 7, 2018.

Getting injured on the job is more common than you may think, and injuries occur in more workplace environments than you would expect. A new study by Pinnacol, a leading workers’ compensation insurance provider, examines five years of data regarding workers’ compensation claims in Colorado.

Constant muscle and joint pain may be something bigger

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Most people will feel a little muscle soreness or stiff joints after work as they get older. These uncomfortable moments can usually be remedied with some extra stretches, rest or hot/cold therapy. Most of the time, with a little extra attention, you could be pain free by the end of the week. What happens when the pain lingers, though?

If you noticed muscle stiffness or joint pain after work but common remedies aren’t solving your problem, it could be a repetitive stress injury (RSI). RSIs are much more common than many people think and are often a result of workplace duties.

Construction zone worker airlifted for medical treatment

On behalf of Eley Law Firm posted in Workplace Injuries on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Construction zone workers on Colorado highways will always be vulnerable. Not only does the traffic that passes through pose a risk but also the construction vehicles on site. A member of a construction crew on Highway 149 was airlifted to a hospital in Durango for medical treatment after a recent workplace accident.

According to a Colorado State Patrol report, the incident occurred when two construction workers were walking along the shoulder of the highway. At that time, another worker in a construction truck backed up and struck one of the two pedestrian workers. Somehow, both the worker and the driver failed to see each other.

Two techniques that may reduce needlesticks for nurses

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

As we’ve known for a long time, the demand for nurses is only going to increase. We know that there are more Americans over the age of 65 today than any other time in U.S. history. Experts have also estimated that by 2030, there will be 70 million people over the age of 65.

With what is in store for America’s nurses, it’s only right that they receive as many protections as possible.

Open fractures and common baggage handler injuries

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

Airline baggage handlers are highly susceptible to injury. They are required to maintain a steady pace of work while handling heavy machinery in open elements. They push their bodies to, or past, the limit on a daily basis to keep flights on-time.

Here is a summary of Osha's most frightening reports of baggage handler injuries on the tarmac:

Workers' compensation has the back of injured farmworkers

On behalf of Eley Law Firm posted in Workplace Safety on Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

Colorado's agriculture industry contributes billions of dollars to the economy of the state. However, consumers of Colorado cantaloupes, peaches, sweet corn and red meat may not realize the toll it takes to provide these products to the market. Fortunately, the workers' compensation insurance system covers most farm workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.

Safety authorities say every operation on a farm poses unique risks, and comprehensive safety training is the key to keep workers safe. Those who work with animals risk hazards such as being thrown off horses and kicked by cattle. They also have to move about in heat or rain and snow and work in animal waste and dirt. They have to lift heavy objects like drums filled with chemicals, hay bales and young calves, risking musculoskeletal disorders.

Everything you need to know about a torn meniscus

On behalf of Eley Law Firm posted in Knee Injuries on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

A torn meniscus is one of the most common injuries to the knee and can happen in just about any profession. To understand what a torn meniscus is and how to identify it, it's important to first review the anatomy of the knee.

Injured Workers