News Digest 6-6-2019

Quote of the day

“Ohio has always required that an employee have a physical harm or injury in order to participate in workers’ compensation. The so-called ‘mental-mental’ claim – a psychological condition that arises solely from the stress – has never been compensated in Ohio. This exclusion was originally a part of a judge-made, common law.”

Kevin Shimp, director of labor and legal affairs, Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Cleveland American

 

Ohio may require injured workers to declare citizenship to collect workers’ comp

The Ohio House on Wednesday voted 57-36 in favor of requiring injured workers to declare whether they are citizens, illegal workers or legal workers on their Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation benefits claim forms. Filing false information would render the worker ineligible for benefits and subject him or her to prosecution for workers compensation fraud. The Ohio BWC budget bill also includes a provision that will mandate coverage of post traumatic stress disorder as an acquired-on-the-job condition for police, firefighters and emergency medical service workers. Dayton Daily News

Bill would change workers’ comp for first Ohio responders with PTSD

Emergency personnel in Ohio who suffer work-related post-traumatic stress disorder could soon be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim even if they do not experience an accompanying physical injury, as is required under current law. The County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce have expressed concern about the PTSD provision. Cleveland American (Cleveland, Okla.)

Tampa-area sting nabs 19 unlicensed contractors

After responding to ads placed on social media and online bulletin boards for electrical, plumbing, concrete, painting, drywall and tile work, Pinellas County, Florida sheriff’s detectives conducted an undercover sting at a vacant residence that resulted in 19 arrests for three dozen charges including unlicensed specialty contracting violations and workers’ compensation fraud. Tampa Bay Newspapers

Experts concerned workplace violence may be rising

While incidents of mass violence of any kind are rare, experts worry workplace violence is a persistent problem and may be on the rise. In 2016, there were 500 workplace homicides nationwide — the highest total since 2010 — accounting for 10 percent of all fatal occupational injuries that year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. WAMU (American University)

Illinois’ new workers’ comp law creates ‘unprecedented new rights’: Attorney

Illinois Senate Bill 1596, the Workers’ Compensation Repose Act, attempts to do a ‘side run’ around a 2015 Illinois Supreme Court ruling that barred the plaintiff from suing in civil court and upheld the statute of limitations on workers’ compensation claims. Certain asbestos and other occupational disease and injury claims are taken out of the workers’ compensation system, allowing certain individuals to sue in civil court. Madison-St. Clair Record