Five Things You Need to Know: 8/17, Friday Edition

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -

1) Oil Vat Accident Leads to Disney World Employee’s Death

One Disney World employee and another Harvest Power plant staff member were working near a vat of recyclable oil on Wednesday, writes Amy B. Wang of the Washington Post, when one of them, John Korody, slipped and fell into the vat, per authorities. The other worker “…tried to pull him to safety, but fumes from the oil and grease byproduct overwhelmed both of them, and Korody slipped further into the vat, the sheriff’s office said.” Harvest Power Spokesperson Meredith “…Sorensen said the company organized a moment of silence and emphasized safety measures in the wake of the incident. It was also providing grief counselors for the team at the Florida facility, she said.”

2) Kickoff Tomorrow: WCI’s 2018 Conference to Begin This Weekend

The stars are aligning as WCI gears up for its 73^rd educational conference to take place Aug. 19-22 at The Orlando World Center Marriott. Click here to read WorkersCompensation.com Featured News coverage on upcoming sessions expected to shine. But first, it is time to look to the children and their families who visit the Give Kids the World Village every year, as conference attendee volunteers take the time to complete any tasks needed for campus upkeep on Saturday. The Gala to raise money for the organization will take place Saturday night. “…Monday will bring an industry keynote entitled ‘People, Places, and Things: The Future of Workers' Compensation.’ Multiple speakers will contribute to the panel, including Mark Walls, VP of Communications and Strategic Analysis at Safety National; and Kimberly George, SVP of Corporate Development M&A and Healthcare at Sedgwick as moderators,” per the article. Walls told us three main ideas will be touched on: “Talent attraction and retention, office of the future, and technology.” Check back for up-to-date coverage, and follow/Tweet at @wcconnections and @DaraBarney for live conference news.

3) Australian Employee Alleges He was Racially Harassed at Work

Maori Rainbow Beach Adventure Co. employee McDuff Tupetagi has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging he was given sunscreen labeled “black guy repellent” from other coworkers while on the job, writes Claudia Poposki for the Daily Mail Australia. That, and other racially-motivated insults have led him to absences from work for mental issues, per documents. “Rainbow Beach Adventure Company is owned by Website Travel Group, which told Fairfax: 'We value all our employees and are supporting the proceedings.’”

4) Registration is Open: Sept. 20 Hot Seat Webinar on AMAs

“Impairing the Guides: The Legal Assault on the 6th Edition,” is scheduled to take place Sept. 20, featuring Alan Pierce, attorney, author and Dr. Chris Brigham, physician and author. Pierce is host of the podcast ‘Workers' Comp Matters' heard on the Legal Talk Network, and Brigham is Senior Contributing Editor for the AMA Guides Sixth edition and Editor of the AMA Guides Newsletter. He is also author of the book, Living Abled. “…Both men will join Hot Seat co-hosts Bob Wilson and Judge David Langham for what is expected to be a spirited discussion on the issue,” according to a WorkersCompensation.com Current News article. “Registration is free and may be completed here, and a recording of the program will be available immediately after the webcast.”

5) NO: Cleaning Co. Employee Allegedly Called a ‘Dirty Mexican’ at Work

The EEOC has filed a lawsuit against Mariam Enterprises DBA Marion's Cleaners, alleging one of its Hispanic employees was discriminated against, writes Marian Johns of the Legal News Line. “…The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is alleging that one of the cleaner's Hispanic employees was told to ‘go back to Mexico’ and was called a ‘stupid Mexican’ and a ‘dirty Mexican.’ The employee was also grabbed by the hair repeatedly and punched in the face while being pressed against an exposed steam pipe, causing her to suffer second-degree burns and trauma. She was fired several days later yet the employee who attacked her was not disciplined, according to the EEOC,” per the article. The employee requests monetary damages. 

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