| Author | Subject: Re: Oregon workplace injuries, illness drop to all-time low |
| Tom L | Posted At 13:37:33 01/04/2000
This report could be good news, Just like the story that claiment fraud is on the rise. A large percentage of these injuries are minor. Cuts that require stitches, sprained ankles, all minor, and these people are lucky to have not been seriously injuried because if they had been they would see a different side to Workmans comp in Oregon and this message forum would be full all the time. I cannot stress this point enough, The upcoming Supreme Court decision in the Terry Smothers case is by far the most important subject on the minds of lawmakers, Our Governor and everyone involved in protecting the current business climate in Oregon. This state is playing on both sides of the playing field, The above post is a defensive move because they want the general public to think our workplace's are safe, On the otherside of the field they are playing offense. They also want the general public to believe that if you are injuried more that likely you will fraud this system. The last ten years has produced billions of dollars in savings to employers because the reforms of the 1990's went into effect to protect employers against lawsuits thereby changing the attitudes of employers about how they look at safety. These employers know full well that if an employee is injuried bad enough to be hospitalized or requires surgery the burden of their injuries is taken away from them and put on the backs of the Injuried, More that likely if the injury is expensive to the W/C carrier they will force that injured worker to go to IME examines only to deny that injured worker compensation for his or her Injuries. Its the attitude of employers about safety that is very dangerous because they are protected by Exclusive Remedy, If the injuried worker is injuried because of the employers negligence that worker has no recourse meaning if the employee calls OR-OSHA and they Inspect the workplace where the employee was injuried and if they fine the company for safety violations that fine averages less that 300 dollars. So where is the incentative for the employer to clean up its act, Not by the amount of an OSHA fine thats for sure. I do not understand why people think that Oregon is a safe place to work when employers are protected from lawsuits from employees who have been Injuried on the job Employers can fire an Injured worker because of their On The Job Injury because that employer is protecting their premium rate, "I know because it happended to me." Employers can do what ever they want to protect their Worker comp rates by firing injuried workers and even testifying in court against them because they can get by with it. that is the attitude of Employers in Oregon. The reason why Pioneer Cut Stock is a safe place to work is because they are probably one of only a hand full of employers that actually care about their employees safety and health. Don't believe everything that you read about improving safey and health in Oregon because others are paying the real price of safety. Oregons smoke screen hasn't even started yet, This state wants everyone to think that workers safety is foremost on the minds of employers, that is not so. The propaganda machine hasn't even started yet. |
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