Hackensack Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Farm machines such as tractors, combines and skid loaders are known for vibrating at intense levels. The European Union has developed a system for measuring workers' exposure to whole-body vibrations, establishing an "action level" beyond which the vibrations may be detrimental to one's health. New Jersey residents should know that one NIOSH-funded study has reviewed the link between farm machine vibrations and back pain.

University of Iowa researchers attached floor and seat sensors to 112 pieces of farm machinery and measured vibration levels as 55 workers operated them. With the seat sensors, they analyzed how well the seats reduced floor vibrations. They concluded that 56 percent of the machines met the EU's action level for exposure after eight hours of operation and that nearly 30 percent met it after only two hours.

New Jersey construction workers who are exposed to silica dust could face a significantly increased risk of serious illness and disease. According to one study, construction workers in bridge repair, chipping and crushing may be exposed to over 10 times the allowed limit of silica dust per federal OSHA workplace safety regulations. The study collected 51 samples of air in the personal breathing zones of construction workers involved in repairing bridges, demolishing buildings or crushing concrete.

Researchers also collected 33 samples from the surrounding area to determine if particles were affecting the environment as well. Some of the job sites had dust suppression controls in place while others did not. The workers at the highest risk were those involved in chipping concrete while repairing the substructure of bridges. These workers faced an average exposure to respirable crystalline silica of 527 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The OSHA regulation places an upper limit on worker exposure to silica dust at 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Other workers who faced almost twice the allowable limit were those operating crushing machines. The researchers urged that additional respiratory protective gear be provided.

When a person is driving down New Jersey roads and they see an automobile accident, it's understandable that they are interested in knowing what it caused the accident. There are a lot of factors that come into play, including human error and distracted driving.

Law enforcement officials, governmental agencies and insurance companies are interested in knowing the reasons behind accidents. This allows them to assign liability for an accident or determine who is legally responsible.

Under ideal circumstances, employers and workers in New Jersey cooperate to maintain safe working environments. Because workers are often the first people to notice dangerous conditions, the law recognizes that they need protection when reporting problems.

If a hazard does not appear to present an immediate danger, a worker should inform the employer in writing about the problem. If the employer does not take action to address the safety issue, then the worker could send a formal complaint to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration or its state-level equivalent. The law prohibits an employer from punishing a worker for informing authorities. Forms of retaliation such as job termination, demotion or pay cuts could enable a worker to complain to OSHA about mistreatment. If the agency confirms the retaliation, then it could order the employer to restore the person's employment and pay for lost wages.