Iowa pays settlement in CO leak that sickened 70 law enforcement cadets
The state of Iowa will pay a settlement in connection with a carbon monoxide leak at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy that sent more than 70 cadets to the hospital in November 2018. The State Appeal Board agreed to reimburse workers’ compensation insurers for the cadets’ medical payments because lack of maintenance allegedly led to the leak, according to a spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Des Moines Register
Cyberattacks halt Hanford workers’ comp program
Cyberattacks on the U.S. government have abruptly paused processing of benefit applications for employees who were sickened while working on nuclear weapons programs at Hanford and other Department of Energy sites, delaying aid to some dying workers. The Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Group received notice late Friday that effective Monday, a vital component of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program would be offline for two to four months, which could delay approval of new benefits for groups of employees who believe they’ve been exposed to workplace hazards. Wenatchee World
Working to an early grave: Mortality in South Dakota
In South Dakota, 20 employees were killed on the job in in 2019, according to a report released by the South Dakota Federation of Labor, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. KELO
Michigan Republicans create website for residents to complain about pandemic workplace rules
Some Michigan House Republicans are concerned proposed COVID-19 standards for workplaces contain language that would allow guidelines to be extended without any emergency declaration in place. The proposed workplace rules cover mandates like mask requirements, social distancing, proper ventilation and other COVID-19 safety measures. Holland Sentinel