Los Angeles Workers' Compensation Law Blog

While cleaning the outside of Disneyland's Space Mountain attraction last November, a 37-year-old contractor was injured after a fall that caused several bones to be broken. The Disney contractor who employed the worker has been struck with a fine of $60,995 that was levied by California safety regulators who maintain that the contractor failed to provide anchors for the employee, as reported by The Orange County Register.

It is unclear whether the victim has filed for worker's compensation, but the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health stated that the company, HSG Inc., which is based out of Los Angeles, failed to adhere to multiple safety rules.

A 22-year-old California man recently suffered a possible broken leg in a workplace accident in Thousand Oaks. Workplace injuries such as this one often ultimately involve worker's compensation benefits although those details are often confidential. In this case, information on the full extent of the man's injuries and possible claims is not available.

The incident occurred when the man drove a limousine onto the tracks of the automated car wash at which he was employed. The vehicle's transmission was in inadvertently left in reverse by the worker as he exited the vehicle, causing the vehicle to move backwards. The worker attempted to prevent damage by pushing the limo from behind and was ultimately trapped between the limo and a sport utility vehicle that was also at the car wash.

California is seen by many as a land of opportunity. This brings many workers here to do jobs that might not be available to them where they come from -- in many cases, other countries. However, many of these workers may pay a high price for their opportunities.

Several recent cases around the country have shown how many migrant or temporary workers have not received the same kinds of treatment that other employees receive. This has led on more than one occasion to serious workplace accidents that, if not preventable, might have been less serious had these workers received adequate training and support from their employers.

State lawmakers are considering changes to California's workers' compensation laws to deny coverage for professional athletes who play games in California but who are not affiliated with a California team. Generally, workers who are injured on the job in California are entitled to benefits from the workers' comp system. While professional athletes work in a different kind of workplace than most workers in the state, some lawmakers are concerned that players and retired players from visiting professional sports teams are receiving benefits for injuries sustained in California.

Generally, many workplace accidents may involve an injury. Such an event should entitle the California worker to benefits under the state system. But not all injuries in the workplace occur in a one-time event. Repetitive motion injuries, such as a desk worker developing carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, or other form of repetitive stress injury, are generally workers' compensation issues. Similarly, cumulative stress experienced on the field for pro athletes may be the source of a workplace injury.