Quote of the day
“Last year there were over 8 million prescriptions written for opioid class of drugs.”
Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Board Chairman Judge Frank McKay
Construction workers more likely to die of opioid overdoses than others
A Massachusetts Department of Public Health study has found that construction workers were six times more likely to die of opioid overdoses than the general population. Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Board also is aware of the opioid problem. WSB (Atlanta) [with video]
Firefighters aim to get workers’ comp law passed this session
The Montana Legislature is expected to address a bill during the 2019 legislative session that would allow compensation for firefighters who contract work-related cancer. The Montana State Council of Professional Firefighters hope to get the bill presented as early as next week. Proponents expect some opposition, specifically about the rate of workers compensation. KULR (Billings, Mont.)
Georgia insurance agents charged with fraud
Husband and wife insurance agents have been charged in Glynn County, Georgia with multiple counts of fraud, including defrauding customers who paid for workers’ compensation coverage. The case is still under active investigation. News4Jax (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Florida appeals court rules elevator company official can’t be sued in death
In late December, the Florida First District Court of Appeal ruled that a lower court erroneously denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit arising out of the death of a worker who died while inspecting and repairing an elevator. The lawsuit alleged the defendant, the vice president and general counsel of Otis Elevator Company, purposefully helped company managers intentionally violate five Fed-OSHA regulations and that the company itself hid how it contributed to deaths of its employees and misrepresented other employees. Florida Record
Employee sues logging company for failure to cover
An employee is suing a logging and trucking company in West Virginia state court, alleging he suffered serious injuries in course of his employment and the employer failed to add him to its workers’ compensation policy. The lawsuit claims the defendants asserted that they would “take care” of him and his family as long as he did not file a workers’ compensation claim. West Virginia Record