Not long after the sale and use of consumer fireworks were legalized in Iowa in 2017, the number of fireworks related injuries went up when compared to preceding years. The severity of the injuries, the number of teens injured while handling fireworks, and the number of bystanders injured all rose presumably due to easier access… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Sexual Orientation Discrimination
In a 6-3 decision the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an employer who terminates an employee, or otherwise discriminates against them because they are gay or transgender, is violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects employees from discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race, color, religion and national origin.… Read More »
New Iowa Law Protects Businesses and Healthcare Providers From Covid-19 Liability
Iowa lawmakers have passed legislation to protect businesses and health care providers from Corona virus-related lawsuits and sent the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds to sign. Employers and operators of businesses as well as health care providers who follow CDC guidelines – occupancy restrictions, social distancing, and increased disinfection efforts to name a few –… Read More »
Accidents Caused by a Failure to Use Turn Signal
Although turn signals are standard safety equipment in every motor vehicle and motorists are required by law to use them to signal turns and lane changes, a recent study reveals that many Americans neglect to activate their turn signals resulting in more traffic accidents than distracted driving. Drivers who do not use their turn signals… Read More »
Drive Safely – 2020 Motorcycle Season Now Underway
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle fatalities decreased nearly 5 percent in 2018. While it is heartening to see the number of motorcyclists seriously injured in traffic accidents declining, motorcycle riders are still over represented in traffic fatalities which should remind everyone on the road to take precautions as the 2020… Read More »
Returning to Work During Covid 19 – What Are My Rights?
With many states reopening, many employees may be nervous about returning to work. If you feel that your boss is calling you back too soon, is there anything you can do? Many Americans were furloughed or worked from home during the early weeks of the pandemic and are fearful of returning to the workplace as… Read More »
When Workers Return Will Companies Liable for Covid-19?
Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide a safe workplace, free from serious hazards, complying with standards rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act. As pressure mounts to reopen the economy, employers are feeling the heat to protect their employees from the known hazards of Covid-19. In a recent… Read More »
Preventing Iowa Motorcycle Accidents
A 23-year-old Iowa man has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a 2019 accident – a crash which resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. Coverage of the case reveals that, after stopping at a stop sign on the morning of July 27, 2019, the driver proceeded to make a left turn, but failed… Read More »
Employee Paid Leave Rights under Covid 19
To ensure workers do not have to choose between their paychecks and public health measures, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), reimburses private employers with fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing… Read More »
Failure to Control Hazardous Energy | Lock Out Tag Violation Cited by OSHA
Recently the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited an Arcola, Illinois manufacturer for violations of OSHA’s machine safety standards after an employee was seriously injured on the job. The company was cited for not only inadequate machine guarding but also a failure to control hazardous energy sources – a lockout/tag… Read More »