Atlanta Workers' Compensation Law Blog

If injured on the job, U.S. Postal Service employees may soon see modifications coming to their workers' compensation benefits. Members of the U.S. Congress are currently reviewing legislation relating to postal reform. If passed, the alterations to existing law could prove to be the most significant federal workers' compensation changes in the past four decades.

Long utilized as a method of redress for those involved in job site accidents or workplace injuries, workers' compensation at the federal level can address a variety of work-related ailments, from serious injuries to occupational illness. In Georgia, residents who work for the federal government, including postal workers, are often eligible for multiple benefits as the victim of a workplace accident.

As with most workplace injuries, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true for eye injuries sustained while on the job, as the effects can range from persistent discomfort to complete loss of sight.

For Georgia industrial workers, many of whom work in the state's varied manufacturing and energy sectors, eye safety can become or remain a priority by keeping certain factors in mind. For example, workers and their supervisors should always wear up-to-date forms of safety glasses during work hours. Today's eyewear features plastic lenses and side shields, both of which tend to provide thorough eye protection.

The start of spring in the Atlanta area also signals the start of a busy construction season, with area buildings and roadways undergoing the same fresh start as nature this time of year. However, springtime in Georgia can also see an increase in construction workers' accidents, as heavy traffic combined with unpredictable weather can mean treacherous conditions for workers.

This higher risk for construction accidents is mirrored in one notable case that last month. A building collapsed while workers were in the process of demolishing it, trapping three construction workers under the rubble. One of the workers, a 69-year-old man, died as a result of the accident. The other two employees were at least partially buried under chunks of the former structure and sustained serious injuries.

On the anniversary of the 2011 Japan tsunami and earthquake, the safety of those who work in and around nuclear power plants is still a major concern for occupational health experts. Here in Georgia, that concern is amplified by the possibility of a pair of nuclear reactors being built in the state in the near future. If completed as planned, Georgia's nuclear reactors would be among America's first new nuclear energy efforts in decades.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant experienced a worst-case scenario last year: a meltdown caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Responders to the scene were exposed to radioactive material that explosions released into the surrounding air. The results of this exposure may vary from thyroid problems to full-blown cancer, both severe forms of workplace illness and occupational disease.