Vol. 6, Issue 48

Find Solutions & Strategies November 30, 2015

Silicosis: An Ancient Disease Plagues Construction, Fracking and Engineered Countertop Workers

In This Issue

- SILICOSIS

- LARSON'S: Heart Attack, Withdrawal From Workforce, Housekeeping Services

- NATIONAL & STATE NEWS

- eNEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Workers' Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis
2015 Edition ... Order Today!

silicosis: an ancient disease plagues construction, fracking and engineered countertop workers

A new study examines emerging workplaces with high risk of silica exposure

By Robin E. Kobayashi, J.D.

Silicosis, an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, can be traced back to ancient Greeks and Romans. In the early 18th century, the noted Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini observed sand-like substances in the lungs of stone cutters and the workers' asthmatic symptoms. Two centuries later, the number of cases of silicosis skyrocketed after the introduction of the pneumatic hammer drill in 1897 and sandblasting in 1904. An international conference on silicosis in 1930 sought to achieve a consensus on the definition of silicosis. This landmark gathering of experts from nine different countries explored diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of silicosis. The conference, which was held in Johannesburg, focused on mining and quarrying work, with South Africa's booming gold mining industry driving the discussion and debate...read more.

Season's Greetings

LARSON'S SPOTLIGHT ON RECENT CASES

Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., our Feature National Columnist, is the co-author of Larson's Workers' Compensation Law (LexisNexis).

Kentucky: ALJ's Findings that Fatal Heart Attack Was Not Causally Linked to Employment Found Erroneous. Where uncontradicted evidence indicated that the deceased service center manager had been under extreme stress-on the day prior to the manager's fatal heart attack he had been advised by an EPA...read more.

Pennsylvania: Claimant Retires and Moves to Nevada, but Court Says No Evidence She Withdrew From Workforce. A Pennsylvania appellate court held that it was error to suspend a claimant's benefits solely because she received a disability pension and had moved to Nevada for its warmer climate...read more.

North Carolina: Assistance With Housekeeping, Cooking, and Personal Hygiene Found Not Compensable. A North Carolina appellate court affirmed a decision by the state's Industrial Commission that found an injured worker's request for assistance with housekeeping, cooking, and personal hygiene were "ordinary expenses of life"...read more.

national & state news

NCOIL Commits to Investigate Opt-Out Work Comp, Stand Up to Federal Intervention.

Third Circuit Rules Temp Workers Can Sue for Bias in Workplace.

Telecommuting Challenges How to Measure, Regulate and Compensate Work.

Telecommuting Could Change What Qualifies as "Work".

On-Demand Companies Reclassifying Workers to Build Up Their Businesses.

Study Examines Prescription Opioid Use After Lumbar Fusion in Work Comp Setting.

AL: Self-Insured Workers Comp Fund to Distribute Retro Returns Totalling $7.6M.

CA: DIR Reports Work-Related Injury, Illness Rate Lowest in 13 Years.

CA: Senator Schedules Dec. 2 Oversight Hearing Re: Los Angeles Work Comp Issues.

CA: Five to Plead Guilty in Pacific Hospital Kickback Scheme.

ID: Next Advisory Committee Meeting Set for 2/10/216.

ID: Workers Comp Defense Attorney Cantrill Named Director of Idaho Judicial Council.

MO: Attorney Wins $700K in Medical Bills on "Modified" Award.

MT: Montana State Fund Declares Historic $35M Dividend.

NJ: Court Allows Petitioner With TD Award to Reopen Prior Claim for PTD.

NM: Advisory Council to Discuss 2016 Legislative Agenda at Dec. 3 Meeting.

NY: WCB Post Oct. Reports for FROI, Timely SROI, Timely Payment.

VA: SCC Increases Workers Comp Loss Costs by 3.4%.

WI: GOP Lawmakers Seek WC Reforms on Fraud Abuse, Fired Workers.

ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Take a deep dive into our past eNewsletters for 2015 and prior...warning - some links to articles may not work...report any linking problems to Robin.E.Kobayashi@lexisnexis.com.

November 23, 2015: Paris Tragedy Reminds Us That Workplace Violence Is a Serious Risk.
November 16, 2015: Will 2016 Be the Year That Opt Out Legislation Catches Fire?
November 9, 2015: A New Mediation Track to Combat Opioid Use by Injured Workers.
November 2, 2015: Low Back Pain Study: Costs & Benefits of State WC Policy Variations.
October 26, 2015: Substantial Evidence Must Have Some Substance.
ACCESS ARCHIVES AND ARTICLES LIST HERE.

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