Hackensack Workers' Compensation Law Blog

As New Jersey considers the legalization of marijuana, its residents can look to the experience of other states in this area. In Colorado, for instance, recreational marijuana may be legal, but its effects are felt in other areas as well.

One of those areas is Colorado’s workers’ compensation law. A Colorado widow recently had workers’ compensation payments to her halved as a result of her deceased husband’s legal marijuana use.

Thousands of New Jersey workers face significant job-related hazards each day. Many of these hazards occur in traditionally dangerous industries, such as construction and agriculture. However, statistics show that people working in industries that are generally considered safe, such as health care, retail and transportation, also face considerable on-the-job risks.

To help workers stay safe, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a workplace safety guidance called "Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs". First released in 1988, it is designed to help employers and employees create a safe and healthy work environment. In 2016, it was updated to reflect modern workplace conditions.

New Jersey employers and employees may be interested to learn that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the International Safety Equipment Association made a formal agreement to improve workplace safety across the county on June 21. The alliance between the two will last for two years.

Under the alliance, OSHA will help ISEA educate both workers and employers about personal protective equipment. This will include helping employers and workers with choosing, maintaining and storing the equipment through educational materials. OSHA personnel will also share information with health professionals and industry safety professionals in order to develop a national consensus regarding standards for personal protective equipment. This will be done through seminars, lectures and workshops. Finally, OSHA agreed to speak or appear at ISEA conferences and other associated events.

Workers in New Jersey can face a wide array of unexpected dangers on the job, whether they work in an industry known for workplace safety concerns like construction or in a less physically demanding job in an office. Slip-and-fall accidents are responsible for a number of workplace injuries and even fatalities. In 2014 alone, 660 workers lost their lives after they fell from a height, while another 138 were killed when they fell at the same level.

This type of workplace accident can occur in unexpected places, especially when people become complacent about their surroundings due to constant exposure. By keeping a close eye on their environment, workers can help to avoid some of the hazards that can lead to injury. It can be particularly important to avoid walking too quickly or being distracted by emailing or texting on a mobile phone in the office, as these can prevent workers from seeing changes in elevation or obstacles in the path. Where obstacles or spills are apparent, it can be important to take action to clear them away quickly to prevent other injuries to additional people in the workplace.