National Fall Prevention Stand-Down Aims to Lessen Work Injuries

Tomorrow is the last day to join in a National Fall Prevention Stand-Down from June 2 -6 to help prevent falls in construction. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), in 2012 about 35 percent of fatalities were caused by falls from elevation. All of which were preventable by ensuring safety standards.

A stand-down is an event where employers discuss methods of preventing accidents and reducing hazards. OSHA, along with its partners, urges employers’ trade associations, federal, state and local governmental agencies, professional societies, institutes, and consumer/labor-management interest organizations, sub-and independent contractors to participate in stand-downs to prevent potential injury or death. Certificates of participation are available here upon completion of the stand-down.

OSHA also offers numerous fall prevention resources here that can be used to educate participants during the stand-down.

While injuries can be prevented, they still occur. Pond Lehocky believes that workers should be well-informed about ways to prevent falls and that this knowledge should be provided by the employer. If you are injured on the job because of a fall, Pond Lehocky is to help.  Call us today at 800-568-7500.

Good News for American Workers, Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee Will Be Re-established

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez recently announced that the charter of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (“WPAC”) will be re-established.   WPAC advises the Department of Occupational Safety & Health Administration (“OSHA”) on ways to ensure the effectiveness, transparency, and protection of whistleblowers.  By continuing to obtain advice from worker advocates, labor experts, attorneys, and workers, WPAC will be able to further improve the regulations governing whistleblowing and the cooperative activities between OSHA and other government agencies. 

As a firm specializing in workers’ compensation, Pond Lehocky sees the effects of dangerous, unreported work hazards every day.  We hope the renewal of the activities and powers of WPAC will help to decrease accidents in dangerous workplaces. 

To read the full news release, please click here.

Social Security Updates Policy on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in New Social Security Ruling

Earlier this month, the Social Security Administration released a new Social Security Ruling (“SSR”) updating its evaluation criteria for disability cases involving Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“CFS”).  As the etiology of this debilitating illness is unclear and it is more subjective than some other physical conditions, proving CFS in disability claims was sometimes more difficult than other conditions.  The new ruling, SSR 14-1p, primarily adopts the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) definition of CFS and specifies the medical signs, laboratory findings, and additional criteria for diagnosis.   Additionally, the ruling lays out the documentation required for a disability claim involving CFS, how CFS is considered in the five-step sequential evaluation process every disability claim goes through, and how a person with CFS is found disabled.   

Pond Lehocky believes that this additional, clarifying information will help applicants for disability benefits suffering from CFS.   By removing some ambiguities within the law that provided opportunities for these claims being denied, SSR 14-1p provides the framework for these claims to be argued more successfully. 

You can read the full ruling, which replaces SSR 99-2p, here. 

Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence

Pond Lehocky believes that every worker should know their rights in the workplace and their workers’ compensation protections, should they ever be injured on the job.  However, it is our hope that employers do their best to ensure that every work environment is safe and secure for each of its employees.  

In Pennsylvania, the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence honors outstanding prevention programs and the collaborations between management and employees that make the programs successful.  If you are proud of a safety and prevention program in your workplace which reduces employee injuries and provides financial and other benefits to the company you work for, you can nominate your company for the award by clicking here. 

Award nominations are due by June 1, 2014.  

Jerry Lehocky Honored with "Good Guy Award"

On Saturday, April 12, founding partner Jerry Lehocky was honored with the “Good Guy Award” at the 2014 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Tournament hosted by Joe Hand Boxing Gym.  

Since its founding in 1983, the Joe Hand Boxing Gym has been a safe haven for kids to learn about boxing, but also to better themselves academically.  The facility includes a computer lab, complete with instructors, for children to study and finish their homework.  Proceeds from the Golden Gloves Tournament will support Joe Hand’s operations of these important community resources.   

At the event, Joe Hand recognized distinguished Philadelphians whose work aligns with the objectives of the Joe Hand Boxing Gym and Computer Lab and who have also made extraordinary efforts to the community.  Jerry Lehocky’s work as a champion of labor as well as his political activism as the President of The Pennsylvania Association for Justice, demonstrate his deep civic commitment.   Pond Lehocky is proud of Jerry for receiving this high honor!

Tips to Help Your Social Security Disability Claim

If you are unable to work due to a medical condition, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). While you may meet the eligibility requirements, the process of filing for benefits and obtaining approval from the SSA can be very long and complex, so it is important to avoid certain pitfalls that can derail your claim. Here are four tips to follow to ensure that your disability claim stays on the right track:

• Be sure to allege all of your medical problems in your disability application, including mental conditions. Sometimes it may be possible to obtain disability payments for a combination of impairments that wouldn’t qualify for benefits individually. Mental impairments like anxiety or depression often accompany physical conditions in many applicants.
• See a doctor for your medical condition. The SSA won’t be easily convinced that your condition is severe enough for disability benefits if you haven’t seen a doctor and are not receiving treatment. However, there are acceptable reasons for not seeking treatment, including being unable to afford it and not having access to free or low cost medical services. But if you are able, seeing a healthcare practitioner will provide valuable evidence of the severity of your condition that will help your disability claim. Accordingly:
• Take medication as prescribed by your doctor. When evaluating your claim, the SSA will look to ascertain whether or not your condition is severely limiting. If you neglect to comply with your doctor’s prescribed treatment recommendations, the SSA will likely conclude that your condition is not as serious as you have asserted.
• Don’t assume that you can’t afford to hire an attorney to help you with your claim. You’ll never owe our disability lawyers a fee unless we are successful in obtaining benefits for you. Due to the lengthy, complicated process of applying for disability, having an experienced attorney fighting for you throughout your case can mean all the difference between approval for benefits and the denial of your claim. Regardless of your current financial situation, we can help you: contact our firm today.

What Should I Do After Getting Injured on the Job?

Question: I've just been injured on the job. What should I do now?

Answer: It is extremely important to report your injury to your supervisor or employer immediately. Be sure to include the date, time, and circumstances of your injury. As long as you were not doing anything illegal, your injury will likely be covered by workers’ compensation, so do not hesitate to report it – even if you feel it may be your fault.

If you develop a job-related health condition that manifests over time (such as mesothelioma or a repetitive stress injury like carpal tunnel syndrome), you should report the condition as soon as you receive a diagnosis and you learn that the condition is related to your employment.

After you report your injury, you may want to consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney to help you with you claim. Serious work-related injuries or illnesses and the litigation process are all situations that generally require legal representation. If you have been injured, contracted a work-related illness, or believe that you have been treated unfairly, contact an attorney today.