Employers with more than 10 employees are required to post OSHA Form 300A, which lists a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during the prior year and were logged with OSHA via Form 300, the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. Employers who reported no injuries or illnesses in 2020 may simply enter “zero” on the total line on Form 300A. The form must be signed and certified by a…
Earlier this summer the Georgia legislature came together in support of businesses to craft much-demanded legislation to protect business owners from the liability associated with claims that customers and employees contracted COVID-19 in their place of business. The Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act (GCPBSA) went into effect last Friday, August 7, and expands upon language originally extended to healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities. Protection is now provided for nearly all public, private, sacred or…
Employees are taking their employers to task for a myriad of COVID-19 related employment and workplace issues. With 463 lawsuits filed thus far this year, it comes as no surprise that population dense states like California, Florida and New Jersey lead the way in terms of number of lawsuits filed. (Meanwhile only seven have been recorded in Georgia.) This handy Employment Litigation Tracker, published by Fisher Phillips, tracks and allows users to pivot on one…
Most employers are aware of the Workers’ Compensation Panel and the requirement to have it completed and posted in each office. (A Workers’ Compensation Panel lists the authorized treating physicians selected by the employer for the purposes of treating injured workers.) Unfortunately, business owners often overlook the need to maintain it. In doing so, they put their business at risk. A valid Panel of Physicians must generally meet the following conditions at all times. To provide…
The weather may have been cooler than normal for much of the spring, but that doesn’t mean it will last. This summer, the outlook for Atlanta and surrounding areas predicts above average temperatures – with especially warm weather in June. That’s not good, because hot weather can be dangerous – especially if it is muggy. Moist air makes it harder for the body’s internal cooling mechanism (sweat) to do its job.Don’t take chances with the…
With cannabis (“pot”) having been decriminalized or legalized in more than 30 states—in many cases for recreational, personal use—employers are struggling with how to approach the issue. Cannabis has been touted as a medicinal aid for many conditions, from PTSD to Crohn’s disease, nausea, cancer, multiple sclerosis and more. Yet, cannabis can alter worker reaction times and cause other physical changes that could put the worker, the firm, and its customers at risk. In certain…
Healthcare workers are at a much higher risk of obesity than the majority of occupations, according to a 2014 study by the American Journal of Medicine. In the survey, the healthcare category, overall, ranked 5th out of 20 industries with an obesity rate of 32 percent. However, analysts suggested that figure was skewed due to the inclusion of health providers, such as doctors, who have very low obesity rates. Furthermore, ‘Healthcare support’ positions, including home…
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for people everywhere, and the workplace is no exception. According to the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes: Every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash Every 10 seconds an injury occurs Every 5 seconds a crash occurs Many of these incidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work….
We hear a lot about the dangers of drunk driving, but did you know it is only the Number 3 cause of accidents? The Number 1 cause, by far, is distracted driving. Per a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80 percent of automobile accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents involve some form of driver distraction within three seconds of the incident. Although talking or…
A March 2018 court decision, Shell v. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company, has set a possible precedent for employers to be held liable in actions where they inadvertently classify an obese individual as disabled by making health assumptions based on weight. Per the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) obesity is not a protected status under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) unless the obesity both is outside of a “normal” range and results from…
MarathonHR Helps Thomas Eye Center Focus on Patient Care and Service