Five Things You Need to Know: 10/4, Thursday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) WA: Vancouver-Based Construction Co. in Hot Water Over Unsafe Workplace Violations

“Washington's Department of Labor & Industries has fined a Vancouver construction company that specializes in excavation and trenching $126,400 for multiple safety violations,” according to a Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries Press Release. “…The violations included not ensuring workers were protected from cave-ins, not performing daily excavation inspections, not removing workers from hazardous areas, employees working under suspended load, no safe access or exit available from excavations, and lack of fall protection.” Colf Construction has a little more than two weeks to appeal the alleged violations. “…Penalty money paid as a result of a citation is placed in the workers' compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.”

2) MA: Hotel Workers Strike to Protest Recent Contract Negotiations

Wednesday morning marked the first few hours of a union-led strike involving Marriott Hotel employees in Boston, writes Katie Johnston of the Boston Globe. Boston has been added to a list of cities involved in the strikes including Detroit, Seattle and San Diego. “…The work stoppage involves more than 1,500 Marriott International employees, from housekeepers to bartenders to doormen, at some of the city’s most prominent hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton Boston, Sheraton Boston, and Westin Copley Place,” per the article. Some of the complaints involved in contract negotiations include not enough work hours in the off-season, which leads to less income and cut health insurance benefits. “…Similar to airlines, hotel chains like Marriott that have merged or acquired other brands are using their consolidated power to reduce labor costs, said Randy Albelda, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. And unions, in turn, are going after these industry giants.”

3) Actors Hurt on Set is More Common than You'd Think, Pt. II 

Last week, WorkersCompensation.com referenced a series of on-set actor injuries over the years in Five Things here. Buzzfeed has since published an update, including Mariska Hargitay collapsing a lung while on assignment for Law & Order: SVU after tackling a co-worker for a scene. Aaron Paul was hurt during season two of Breaking Bad when he was pushed through a screen door at full force. He blacked out, and suffered a concussion. Two actors were accidentally stabbed with a real knife vs. a prop: Matthew Fox was stabbed while filming an episode of Lost, and Jimmy Smits was saved by plastic wrapping on the set of Dexter. Fox’s Kevlar vest saved him from major injury.

4) WV: Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization Sued for Distribution of Alleged Improper Salaries

Charleston resident Troy Evans has filed a lawsuit against Meuse-Argonne Post 573 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Inc. and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Inc, alleging “…wrongful practice of denying class members earned wages for all hours worked, and retaliat(ion) against Evans by terminating his employment for his complaints about improper salary,” writes Jenie Mallari-Torres of the West Virginia Record. It is a class action lawsuit. Evans requests trial-by-jury, all wages, damages, interest, damages, court costs, and any other relief.

5) Chemical Exposure On the Job Allegedly Leads to MO Laborer’s Lung Cancer

Riley Crowley of St. Louis has entered into a lawsuit against CBS Corp., FMC Corp., Kohler Co., et al, alleging he was exposed to asbestos on the job, starting in 1961, writes Lhalie Castillo of the St. Louis Record. “…The suit states that on or about April 11, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease and that it was wrongfully caused,” writes Castillo. “…The plaintiff seeks actual and compensatory damages of more than $50,000, plus costs, interest and any further relief that the court may deem just and equitable.”

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