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Safety/Health

OSHA citations follow NYC window-Washing scaffold collapse

07/02/2008
OSHA has cited two companies for workplace safety violations that led to the deaths of two window washers in Manhattan last December. The workers fell 47 stories when their scaffolding platform detached from the window-washing rig attached to the building’s roof …

Job site fatality brings manslaughter charges

07/02/2008
A Brooklyn contractor has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a worker who was killed while digging a foundation in March. William Lattarulo is accused of ignoring obvious safety hazards and forcing his employees to endanger themselves …

Lack of ‘Potty parity’ can spark discrimination claim

07/01/2008

It may sound trivial, but employers in male-dominated industries should take note: Make sure your female employees have access to equal restroom facilities that meet women’s needs. Don’t expect women to adopt male restroom habits. 

In hospitals, have evidence union messages upset patients

07/01/2008
Generally, employees have the right to wear union insignia in the workplace. But in some limited circumstances in health care settings, employers can restrict that right if the restriction is “necessary to avoid disruption of health care operations or disturbance of patients” …

Farm worker’s death prompts outcry

07/01/2008
Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez was a 17-year-old undocumented immigrant and pregnant when she died in May while pruning grapevines in 100-degree temperatures. It shouldn’t have happened, since California is the only state with a heat-illness standard for agricultural workers. Her employer, Merced Farm Labor, had already been issued three citations for violating the standards …

New Jersey court says hola to Spanish workers’ asbestos case

07/01/2008
A state appellate panel has ruled that 15 Spanish workers will be allowed to sue Owens-Illinois, Inc. in New Jersey state court. The case involves asbestos contamination that allegedly occurred aboard U.S. Navy ships docked in Spain …

How much leeway do employers have to prohibit handguns at work?

07/01/2008
Q. We have an employee who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun. Can we prohibit him from bringing his handgun to work? …

Don’t let them eat cake: Join HR’s war on fat

07/01/2008

The focus on overweight employees has always been on the extra expense they add to an organization’s health care costs. But the issue also spills over into a productivity problem, according to a recent study. Aggressive wellness efforts can help trim the workforce size—in a good way …

Do you use subcontractors? Get solid advice on liability potential

07/01/2008
If your company uses subcontractors, you could end up liable for any injuries the subcontractors’ employees suffer while working for you. Or they could just collect workers’ comp. Which scenario will apply to you? A lot depends on whether or not your organization is the “statutory employer” …

Wellness Rx: Help Employees Spend Less on Prescriptions

06/10/2008
Prescription drug costs account for a huge chunk of employer-provided health care insurance premiums—and those costs are rising fast. Don’t run the risk that your workers won’t fill needed prescriptions because they can’t afford to. They’ll stay healthier if you teach them how to hunt for bargains on prescribed drugs.