The 10 Worst Jobs of 2011

According to Careercast.com, Roustabout is the worst job of 2011. 

Until I read this article, I had no idea what a roustabout was. A roustabout is an oil worker. These folks are the key maintenance providers on oil rigs and pipelines.

So why is it the worst job of 2011? These folks perform back-breaking labor for 12 or more hours a day, at all hours of the day or night, in conditions ranging from arctic winters to desert summers to ocean storms. Some of these folks who work in volatile locations of the world face the threat of attack from terrorists or hostile individuals. Roustabouts deal hands-on with dangerous drilling equipment and face the risk of serious injury or death on a daily basis. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster last year, the federal government instituted a seven year suspension of off-shore drilling in the eastern Gulf and Atlantic coastline areas, job prospects for oil rig workers are diminishing.

Careercast surveyed 200 different jobs, and ranked those professions according to five criteria: 1) work environment, 2) physical demands, 3) outlook, 4) income, and 5) stress.

And, without further ado, the worst ten jobs of 2011 according to Careercast.com:

1. Roustabout. Roustabouts perform routine physical labor and maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, both on and off shore.  
2. Ironworker. Ironworkers construct the steel framework of buildings, bridges, and other structures. 
3. Lumberjack. Lumberjacks fell, cut, and transport timber to be processed into lumber, paper, and other wood products. 
4. Roofer. Roofers install roofs on new buildings, perform repairs on old roofs, and re-roof old buildings. 
5. Taxi driver. Taxi drivers operate taxi cabs over the streets and roads of a municipality, picking up and dropping off passengers by request. 
6. Emergency Medical Technician. EMTs attend to situations which demand immediate medical attention, such as automobile accidents, heart attacks, and gunshot wounds. 
7. Welder. Welders join or repair metal surfaces through the application of heat. 
8. Painter. Painters prepare surfaces, and apply paints, varnishes, and finishes to the interiors and exteriors of houses and other structures. 
9. Meter reader. Meter readers monitor public utility meters and record volume of consumption by customers. 
10. Construction worker. Construction workers assist construction trade workers by performing a wide variety of tasks requiring physical labor. 

When I look at this list of the “worst” jobs, it seems like they all have at least one thing in common: workers in these jobs tend to work in worse conditions, and tend to be at greater risk of injury than many other occupations. That being said, I know many people who work in these occupations, and many of them love their jobs.

In Minnesota, if you’ve suffered a work-related injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or rehabilitation benefits.

For a free, no-obligation Minnesota workers’ compensation consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email. 

Amputations and Loss of Limbs: Catastrophic Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Amputations and loss of limbs are among the most catastrophic and debilitating injuries that can occur in the workplace. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10,000 workers suffer from amputations each year. The most common type of amputation injury involves partial or full fingers, thumbs, and toes. About 3% involve the loss of hands or arms, and another 3% involve the loss of feet or legs. The manufacturing and construction industries are responsible for about 2/3 of workplace amputation injuries.

Traumatic amputations and loss of limbs can occur in almost any type of work environment, but these type of accidents most often involve improperly or inadequately guarded machinery, including:

• Band saws 
• Circular saws 
• Grinding machines 
• Conveyor belts 
• Drill presses 
• Punch presses 
• Food slicers 
• Metal shears 
• CNC milling equipment 
• Forklifts 
• Meat grinders 
• Printing presses 
• Milling machines 
• Power presses 
• Roll-forming machines 
• Roll-bending machines 
• Trash compactors 

Amputations can also occur surgically. For example, if a body part is too damaged to repair, it may be surgically amputated after an accident. Or, after an injury, if a body part fails to heal, and develops serious infection, surgical amputation may be necessary to prevent a deadly systemic infection.

Amputation injuries usually require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Workers who have suffered amputation injuries often have significant difficulty returning back to work after an injury, and may incur substantial wage loss. An injured worker may also require modifications to their homes or vehicles to make them more accessible. There are a variety of Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits available to workers who have suffered amputations injuries, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or vocational rehabilitation benefits.

Tragically, dozens of catastrophic amputation work injuries happen in Minnesota every year. A knowledgeable and experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can assist you in obtaining the benefits you’re entitled to. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to learn more about your rights. 

Increased Fatal Work Injuries in Minnesota in 2010

According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, in 2010, there were 69 fatal work injuries in Minnesota, compared with 60 fatal work injuries in 2009, and 71 fatal work injuries in 2008. The average number of work-related fatalities between 2005 and 2009 was 73 cases per year. 

The industries with the highest number of fatalities were agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, with 29 work-related deaths, which were most commonly caused by either contact with objects and equipment or transportation incidents. There were nine workers killed in the construction industry in 2010, which was the second highest fatality rate. Retail trade had the third-highest number of fatalities in 2010, with seven cases.

Transportation incidents accounted for 25 fatalities, and it was the most frequent fatal work-related event. Contacts with objects and equipment accounted for 17 fatalities, and the most common types of injury included being struck by a falling object or getting caught in or crushed in collapsing materials. There were 13 workplace fatalities in Minnesota due to assaults and violent acts in 2010, and there were 10 fatalities resulting from falls.

Men accounted for 63 of the 69 worker fatalities in Minnesota in 2010. Workers over the age of 55 accounted for 24 work-related fatalities in 2010. Self-employed workers accounted for 23 fatalities in 2010.

Dependents of deceased workers who died as the result of a work-related injury or illness may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Generally, dependents include 1) spouses, 2) children under the age of 18, 3) children under the age of 25 who are full-time students, and 4) children over the age of 18 who are deemed to be physically or mentally incapacitated from earning. Other family members, including the deceased worker’s mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother, mother-in-law, or father-in-law, may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if the family member was wholly or partially supported by the deceased worker.

Dependents of workers who die as the result of a work-related illness injury may be entitled to burial expense benefits of up to $15,000.00.

Dependents may also be entitled to dependency compensation based on the deceased workers’ average weekly wage at the time of the injury which resulted in the employee’s death.

In addition to dependency benefits, a deceased workers’ survivors may also be entitled to any workers’ compensation benefits that would have been available to the injured worker, such as wage loss benefits, including temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits, or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits, or permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits.

If your loved one died as the result of a work-related injury or illness, you should strongly consider contacting a workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you and your family receive the workers’ compensation death and dependency benefits you are entitled to.

The law in this area of Minnesota workers’ compensation has changed frequently over the years, and it is very complex. You’d be well advised to have an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side to make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

Minnesota Workplace Injury Rate Near an All-time Low in 2010

In 2010, Minnesota had the second lowest workplace injury and illness rate on record.

The 2010 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses indicated that Minnesota had an estimated 3.9 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent workers in 2010. This is up slightly from the 2009 estimate of 3.8 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, but substantially lower than the rate of 5.1 in 2005. It is also the second lowest injury rate since the survey began in 1972.

The survey estimated that there were 76,700 nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in 2010, 78,100 illnesses and injuries in 2009, and 104,100 illnesses and injuries in 2005.

Of these injuries and illnesses, 37,200 resulted in days away from work, job transfer or restrictions after the day of injury. This is the equivalent of 1.9 per 100 full-time-equivalent workers. An estimated 1.1 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers resulted in one or more days away from work after the day of injury.

The industries with the highest total injury and illness rates were: transportation and warehousing (5.8 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers), health care and social assistance (5.6), and construction (5.3).

Nationally, an estimated 3.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in private-and public-sector workplaces for 2010, resulting in a rate of 3.8 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers.

According to Ken Peterson, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry commissioner, the results “are a positive sign that more worksites continue to make employee safety and health an integral part of their day-to-day operations.”

While I’d like to believe the reduction in the rate of reported workplace illnesses and injuries in Minnesota is due primarily to improvements in workplace safety, unfortunately, I think there are other factors at play. Due to relatively high unemployment, fewer people are working, particularly in some of those “high-risk” industries, such as construction. I also think many injured people are not reporting their injury. With fewer and fewer job options, many injured workers are afraid to report their injuries for fear of losing their jobs. One of the most common questions I hear when I speak with an injured worker the first time is: “Will I get fired if I report my injury?”

If you were hurt on the job in Minnesota, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and/or permanent partial disability benefits.

For a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys. 

OSHA’s 2010 List of Top Ten Most Common Violations

According to Risk & Insurance Online, OSHA has released its Top 10 list of most frequently cited violations. These violations are cited by OSHA because of the significant dangers they pose to workers.

1. Scaffolding - general requirements. Scaffolding regulations aim to protect construction workers from falls and falling objects while working on or near scaffolding at heights of 10 feet or more.
2. Fall protection - general requirements. Fall protection regulations are designed to protect employees on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge above 6 feet.
3. Hazard communication – Thee guidelines address chemical hazards and the communication of them to workers.
4. Respiratory protection – Respiratory regulations direct employers in establishing/maintaining a respiratory protection program.
5. Ladders - general requirements for all ladders. These requirements protect workers from fall dangers.
6. Lockout/tagout – These regulations addresses the control of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment.
7. Electrical - wiring methods. These guidelines deal with the grounding of electrical equipment, wiring, and insulation.
8. Powered industrial trucks –These rules cover the design, maintenance, and operation of powered industrial trucks.
9. Electrical - general requirements. These requirements deal with general safety requirements for designing electrical systems.
10. Machine guarding - general requirements. These rules cover guarding of machinery to protect operators and other employees from hazards.

If you’ve sustained a work-related injury either as a result of OSHA violations, or otherwise, you may be entitled to Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including wage loss benefits, medical expense benefits, permanent partial disability benefits and/or rehabilitation benefits.

For a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights, call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to speak with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers.

Visit us at MeuserLaw.com!

Top Four Construction Injury Hazards

According to OSHA, the top four causes of construction fatalities are 1) falls, 2) being struck by objects, 3) being caught in confined spaces or between objects, and 4) electrocutions.

Here are some simple tips to avoid these hazards: 

Preventing Injuries from Falls

• Employees should wear and use personal fall arrest equipment.
• Employers should ensure that perimeter protection is installed and maintained.
• Floor openings should be covered, secured, and labeled.
• Employee should use ladders and scaffolds safely.

Preventing Injuries from Being Struck by an Object

• An employee should avoid positioning him or herself between moving and fixed objects.
• Employees should wear high-visibility clothing near equipment and vehicles.

Preventing Injuries from Being Caught In Confined Spaces or Between Objects

• Employee should not enter an unprotected trench or excavation five feet or deeper without an adequate protective system.
• Employers should make sure trenches or excavations are protected either by sloping, shoring, benching or trench shield systems.

Preventing Injuries from Electrocutions

• Employees and employers should locate and identify utilities before starting work.
• Employees should look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment.
• Employees should maintain a safe distance away from power lines and learn the safe distance requirements.
• Employees should not operate portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double insulated.
• Ground-fault circuit interrupters should be used for protection.
• Employees should be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms.

When a construction worker is injured on a job site, it often raises unique issues under the Minnesota workers’ compensation law. For example, there may be a dispute as to whether the worker is an independent contractor or an employee. Independent contractors are not covered by workers’ compensation in Minnesota, but employees are covered. Another rule unique to the construction industry is that if an employee is injured, and the subcontractor-employer is uninsured for workers’ compensation, the general contractor may be liable for workers’ compensation benefits. A third issue that frequently arises when a construction worker sustains injury is determining whether there is a liability claim against a negligent third party, in addition to a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

If you’ve sustained a work-related construction injury, you should speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer to learn how to protect your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights, and to explore any potential rights you have to make a third-party liability claim to compensate you for your injuries. For a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our workers' compensation lawyers, contact Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

Work-Related Fatalities Decreased in 2009 In the United States

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, preliminary data from 2009 indicates a total of 4,340 fatal work injuries in the United States. This is down from a final count of 5,214 work-related fatalities in 2008. In fact, the number of fatalities in 2009 is the lowest since recording of fatal work injuries began in 1992.

Economic factors appear to have played a role in the decrease in fatal work injuries in 2009. The total number of hours worked fell by 6% in 2009, and industries that traditionally have a high rate of fatalities, such as construction, saw an even greater drop in hours worked.

The preliminary findings of the 2009 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries revealed some interesting information:

• Workplace homicides declined by 1 percent in 2009, in contrast with an overall 17% decline for all fatal work injuries.
• Workplace suicides were down 10 percent in 2009 from a high of 263 in 2008.
• Fatal work injuries were down by 20 percent among wage and salary workers, but fatal work injuries among self-employed workers were down by 3 percent.
• The wholesale trade industry reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2009.
• Fatal injuries in the private construction sector fell by 16 percent in 2009, following a decline of 19 percent in 2008.
• Fatalities among black and African-American workers fell by 24 percent.
• The number of fatal workplace injuries in building and grounds cleaning maintenance occupations rose by 6 percent.
• Transportation incidents, which accounted for 2/5ths of all fatal work injuries in 2009, fell 21 percent from the 2,130 fatal work injuries in 2008.

Preliminary data from Minnesota indicates 60 work-related fatalities in 2009, down from 65 in 2008. In Minnesota in 2009, there were 22 transportation-related deaths, 10 deaths due to assaults and violent acts, 14 deaths due to contact with objects and equipment, 9 fall-related deaths, and 4 deaths due to exposure to harmful substances or environments, and 1 death from other causes.

In Minnesota, if your loved one suffers a fatal work-related injury, you may be entitled to death and/or dependency benefits.

Dependents of deceased workers who died as the result of a work-related injury or illness may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Generally, dependents include 1) spouses, 2) children under the age of 18, 3) children under the age of 25 who are full-time students, and 4) children over the age of 18 who are deemed to be physically or mentally incapacitated from earning. Other family members, including the deceased worker’s mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother, mother-in-law, or father-in-law, may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if the family member was wholly or partially supported by the deceased worker.

Dependents of workers who die as the result of a work-related illness injury may be entitled to burial expense benefits of up to $15,000.00.

Dependents may also be entitled to dependency compensation based on the deceased workers’ average weekly wage at the time of the injury which resulted in the employee’s death.

In addition to dependency benefits, a deceased workers’ survivors may also be entitled to any workers’ compensation benefits that would have been available to the injured worker, such as wage loss benefits, including temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits, permanent total disability (PTD) benefits, or permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits.

If your loved one died as the result of a work-related injury or illness, you should strongly consider contacting a workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you and your family receive the workers’ compensation death and dependency benefits you are entitled to. The law in this area of Minnesota workers’ compensation has changed frequently over the years, and it is very complex. You’d be well advised to have an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side to make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

Top Ten OSHA Safety Violations – MN Workers’ Compensation

According to Risk & Insurance Online, during 2008, the number of top ten OSHA safety violations increased nearly 30 percent.

The top ten OSHA safety violations in 2008 included:

1. Scaffolding (9,093 violations): According to OSHA, scaffold injuries occur most often when planking or support gives away, from an employee slipping, or when an employee is struck by a falling object.
2. Fall protection (6,771 violations): OSHA requires fall safety precautions anytime a worker is at a height of four feet or more in general industry, five feet in maritime work environments, and six feet in construction.
3. Hazard communication (6,378 violations): Employees working with hazardous or toxic chemicals must be provided with material safety data sheets.
4. Respiratory protection (3,803 violations): Respirators protect workers from harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gasses, vapors, and sprays, which may cause cancer, lung disorders, or other diseases.
5. Lockout/tagout (3,321 violations): Lockout/tagout procedures are practices that safeguard employees from an unexpected startup of machines or the release of hazardous energy during maintenance.
6. Electrical/wiring (3,079 violations): Many employees, including engineers, electricians, and other professionals directly work with electricity, including overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies.
7. Ladders (3,072 violations): According to the Department of Labor, falls are one of the leading causes of work-related deaths.
8. Powered industrial trucks (2,993 violations). Workers can be injured when trucks are inadvertently driven off loading docks, trucks fall between a dock and a trailer, workers are struck by a truck, or when they fall from trucks.
9. Electrical (2,556 violations). Almost all employee are indirectly exposed to electricity and may be exposed to electrical hazards.
10. Machine guarding (2,364 violations). Inadequate machine guarding can lead to catastrophic injury or death.

If you are injured in the course and scope of your employment, you may be entitled to Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanency benefits, and rehabilitation benefits.

For a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your rights under Minnesota workers’ compensation law, contact Meuser & Associates at  877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Backovers -- Leading Cause of Worker Fatalities in Work Zones

The leading cause of fatalities for workers in work zones is being run over or backed over by vehicles. Motorists on the road create a constant hazard for construction zone workers, but these workers are also at equal risk of being killed by construction vehicles. On average, each month, at least one road construction worker is killed by being backed over by a construction vehicle.

Between 1995 and 2002, 844 workers were killed while working at a road construction site. During this period, the most common type of incident involved a worker who was struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment (60% of fatal accidents). Other fatal events included collisions between vehicles or mobile equipment (10 %), being struck by an object (5%), and falls (5%). Eighty-two percent of workers killed in highway accidents worked in road and street construction.  

In Minnesota, several road construction workers have been killed in work zones. For example:

• In 1992, a highway paving crew member was killed after being run over by a rear end dump truck.
• In 1992, a highway construction flagman was killed after being stuck by a pickup truck.
• In 1994, a highway construction worker died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a roadway.
• In 1995, a construction worker was killed after being run over by a 9-wheel pneumatic roller.
• In 1996, a conveyor operator died after being run over by a belly dump trailer.
• In 1997, a worker was killed after being run over by a Caterpillar.
• In 1998, a worker was killed after being run over by a front-end loader.
• In 1999, an electrician died after falling from a cherry picker basket.
• In 2000, a worker was killed after being crushed between a rock spreader and a pneumatic roller.

If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of a Minnesota work zone accident, you may be entitled to MN workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits and rehabilitation benefits. If your loved one was killed in a work zone accident in Minnesota, you and your family may be entitled to MN workers’ compensation death and dependency benefits.

For a free, no-obligation case review, call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to speak with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers. Visit us at MeuserLaw.com to learn more about Minnesota workers' compensation.

Most Dangerous Jobs

It doesn’t matter whether you work in a highly hazardous occupation or whether you have a career that doesn’t pose much risk of injury – if you sustain an injury arising out of your work, and within the course and scope of your employment in Minnesota, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the ten most hazardous occupations in 2006:

1. Fishermen and women and fishing workers. 141.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

2. Airline pilots and flight engineers. 87.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

3. Logging workers. 82.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

4. Structural steel and iron workers. 61.0 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

5. Refuse and recyclable materials handlers and collectors. 41.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

6. Farmers and ranchers. 37.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

7. Power line-installers and repairers. 34.9 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

8. Roofers. 33.9 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

9. Traveling sales people and truck drivers. 27.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

10. Miscellaneous agricultural workers. 21.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

Thankfully, for most workers, the chances of being fatally injured on the job are slim. In 2006, there were only 3.9 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. There were a total of 5,703 work-related deaths in the United States in 2006.

If you or a loved one suffers a fatal work-related injury, Minnesota workers’ compensation law provides a variety of death and dependency benefits.

If you are injured on the job in Minnesota, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanency benefits, and/or rehabilitation or retraining benefits.

If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights under Minnesota workers’ compensation law.

Visit Minnesota Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law Firm, Meuser & Associates, P.A., at MeuserLaw.com