Contra Costa County and Tri-Valley Workers' Compensation Blog

California workers in the lumber industry put their lives on the line to care for their families. Sadly, many young children have lost a parent who succumbed to injuries suffered in sawmills. The California workers' compensation insurance system eases the financial burden of thousands of families each year by paying out death benefits.

A 27-year-old sawmill worker recently left behind his mother and two young children when he died in a caught-by accident while working at a Sierra Pacific Industries sawmill in Tuolumne County. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the incident. Investigators will work to determine whether this fatality resulted from noncompliance with safety standards.

Confined spaces are work areas that provide enough space for a worker to perform work but have restricted or limited points of access and exit. They are typically not suitable for extended periods of occupation. These dangerous areas are present on various work sites in California, and noncompliance with prescribed safety standards can lead to workers' compensation claims for serious injuries or worse.

Dangerous confined spaces include utility holes, vats, tanks, tunnels and various other spaces that pose threats of entrapment, asphyxiation and other potentially deadly consequences. Employers must ensure that employees know the dangers posed by these areas. A permit requirement process must be in place, along with proper safety training, personal protective equipment and the necessary monitoring devices.

When you get hurt and you are suddenly unable to continue working, you may not be ready to absorb the loss of your income. An injury won't care that you have a mortgage and other bills to pay. Most people don't have enough money in savings to cover their monthly expenses for as long as it can take to heal from a back injury or a broken bone.

Regardless of how much money you have in savings, if you get hurt on the job, you may be able to qualify for temporary disability benefits to help protect you from the financial consequences of not being able to work. The entire point of workers' compensation insurance is to protect workers from financial devastation after a job-related injury or illness.

Safety and health authorities say hundreds of heat-related deaths occur nationwide every year, including in California. Many of the workers' compensation claims for heat illness involve outdoor workers who were exposed to excessive heat. Although employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees, workers must know the danger signs to look for in themselves and their co-workers.

Special precautions must be taken, especially during July and August when heat waves pose additional threats. Excessive sweating causes the loss of salt and minerals, and frequent intake of water or sports drinks can rehydrate them. Signs of dehydration include heat cramps in muscles of the abdomen, arms and legs. Failure to rehydrate can lead to heat exhaustion with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, increased thirst, excessive sweating, weakness. I3t could lead to the loss of consciousness.