Author: Jainchill & Beckert, LLC

The fines assessed against employers in Connecticut and around the country for violating workplace safety regulations increased by up to 78 percent in August 2016. These financial penalties had remained largely unchanged for several years, but a key provision of the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act required federal agencies covered by the legislation, including the Occupational […]

Although Connecticut has little or no history of coal mining, black lung is a frightening disease for anyone who has worked in a coal mine. This devastating occupational disease had appeared to be dying out by the end of the 20th century. At that time, there were only 31 cases of the most severe form […]

Traffic congestion may not be what Connecticut residents think of first when it comes to on-the-job dangers. However, government data reveals that transportation accidents are the leading cause of workplace deaths in the United States. According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40 percent of the workers killed in 2016 lost their lives […]

When households and businesses in Connecticut send their yard or food waste to composting facilities, the workers must operate heavy machinery to process the solid materials. To inform workers of their workplace hazards, the Solid Waste Association of North America has launched the “Five to Stay Alive” campaign. The association has made flyers and posters […]

To create safer job sites, it’s important for construction workers and employers in Connecticut to understand the dangers of working outdoors during summer. The top five hazards are fatigue, heat-related illness, dehydration, sun exposure and cars in roadside construction zones. Heat-related illnesses include heat rash and heatstroke. Extended sun exposure can lead to sunburns in […]

Construction workers in Connecticut often face dangerous work on the job that can be an inherent part of dealing with shifting earth, unfinished structures, heavy machinery and physical labor. However, on far too many job sites, the health and safety of workers can be compromised by a failure to implement proper safety protocols and follow […]

Far too many companies in Connecticut fail to put sufficient attention on protecting workers’ safety on the job. While many corporations proudly proclaim their commitments to safety, their practices may leave much to be desired. Many workplace injuries are considered to be the result of on-the-job accidents, but most of those accidents result from unsafe […]

Accidents at workplaces around the country killed about 13 workers every day in 2015, and figures from the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics reveal that a further 3 million workers suffered an injury or became ill while at work. Connecticut employers must abide by workplace safety legislation such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, […]

Trench digging is a necessary task for a multitude of Connecticut construction projects. In order for water lines, natural gas supplies and even electrical cables to be laid safely, workers may need to dig trenches into the ground. Depending on the job, trenches can be anywhere from a few feet in depth to over 10 […]

Mining activities in Connecticut present many workplace hazards due to the nature of the job. A new research study that analyzed over 500,000 injury reports from the Mine Safety and Health Administration concluded that long work hours and employees with limited experience exacerbated the risks to extraction workers. University researchers studied reports spanning the years […]