HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK?

This year, North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) runs from May 5 to May 13. It’s a week to focus and re-commit to the importance of protecting worker health and safety on the job, reducing the risks of serious injury or death that are present in all workplaces in the U.S. and Canada.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 4,000 workers lost their lives on the job in 2011, and 3.0 million more were injured. In California, workers’ compensation provides medical payments, lost wage supplements, and other benefits to many workers who are injured on the job. Those who are injured by a third party’s negligence, however, may need to seek compensation from that party as well.

In 2011, California saw 360 fatal injuries occur at workplaces. The majority of deaths occurred on the roads, when employees were involved in fatal car or truck crashes while driving on the job. Slips, trips, and falls also claimed lives in California workplaces, and so did coming into contact with blades, caustic chemicals and other dangerous tools, equipment, or supplies.

In addition to these deaths, about 4,000 people were injured in California jobs in 2011, and about half of these needed one or more days away from work in order to recover. Some were unable to return to work at all, suffering permanent disabilities; others could work, but only in a limited capacity or in a job that did not impose the rigorous requirements they could once meet.

If you’ve been injured on the job, the skilled San Jose injury attorneys at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you need. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call our office today at (800) 900-0863.