Los Angeles, CA – Cal/OSHA has cited five grocery stores in Southern California for failing to protect their employees from COVID-19. The retailers listed below were cited for various health and safety violations including some classified as serious, with proposed penalties ranging from $13,500 to $25,560. “Grocery retail workers are on the front lines and… [Read more]
Work Force & Human Resource News
US DOL Holding Teleconference to Solicit Public Input on OSHA Whistleblower Program
Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold a teleconference Oct. 13, 2020, to solicit public comments and suggestions on key issues facing OSHA’s whistleblower protection program. This is the sixth in a series of meetings on how the agency can improve the whistleblower program. The meeting… [Read more]
NSC Issues Statement on New CDC Vital Signs Report Highlighting Overdose Spike
Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council recently released the following statement noting it’s alarm in response to new data from the CDC indicating that 80% of drug overdoses between January 2019 and June 2019 involved one or more opioids, with three in four deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl. After dropping in 2018, drug overdose… [Read more]
NY Drywall Installer Arrested for Failing to Provide Workers’ Comp Insurance
Albany, NY – New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro recently announced the arrest of a capital region area drywall installer who allegedly failed to provide legally required workers’ compensation insurance to his employees. Dennis R. Hammonds of Schenectady was arrested and arraigned in Schenectady City Court before Hon. Robert Hoffman on two counts of… [Read more]
MI OSHA Cites 19 Businesses for COVID-19 Workplace Safety Violations
Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) recently issued COVID-19 “general duty” citations to 19 different businesses with serious violations for failing to uphold safety and health workplace guidelines, potentially putting workers in harm’s way. “The MIOSHA investigations determined that these employers were not taking precautions to protect employees and their… [Read more]
CA Forestry Technician Arraigned for Alleged Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme
Redding, CA – The California Department of Insurance recently announced that Lance Steven Pasalich was arraigned on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and grand theft after allegedly defrauding his insurer to receive over $8,600 in disability payments he was not entitled to receive. The alleged scheme could potentially have cost the insurer over $55,000… [Read more]
Cal/OSHA Cites Health Care Facilities, Public Safety Employers for COVID-19 Violations
Oakland, CA – Cal/OSHA has cited six Bay Area employers including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and a police department for failing to protect their employees from COVID-19. The employers listed below were cited for various health and safety violations including some classified as serious, with proposed penalties ranging from $2,060 to $32,000. “Workers in health… [Read more]
CA Farm Worker Arraigned for Alleged Workers’ Comp Benefits Fraud
Fresno, CA – The California Department of Insurace has announced that Eduardo Medina Ruelas of Sanger was recently arraigned on multiple counts of felony insurance fraud after allegedly defrauding his employer and RISICO Claims Management Co. to collect $38,000 in workers’ compensation insurance benefits and medical treatment he was not entitled to receive. An investigation… [Read more]
Ohio BWC: TN Man’s False Workers’ Comp Claim Costs him $33K
Columbus, OH – A Tennessee man recently pleaded guilty to felony workers’ compensation fraud after collecting more than $33,000 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for a work injury he falsely claimed occurred in Ohio. Roger Frankenberg pleaded guilty to the fifth-degree felony in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. A judge sentenced him to… [Read more]
CA Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud
Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office recently announced that a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was recently charged with workers’ compensation fraud, Kevin Adams faces one count of workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Arraignment is scheduled for January 11, 2021 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Adams was assigned to the… [Read more]