JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

It’s a scary thought – a government shutdown could actually increase your risk of a workplace accident in Pennsylvania. In a recent blog post, Ronald White, director of regulatory policy at the Center for Effective Government, explained that a government shutdown to could limit the reach of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Based on the last shutdown that happened in late 1995 and early 1996, White explains that a large amount of OSHA complaints could go unanswered, increasing the threat of Pennsylvania workplace injury. White went on to explain that during the last shut down in the 90s, the Department of Labor estimated that only about 10 percent of OSHA employees would be reporting to work; leaving the approximately 400 to 500 complaints of dangerous working conditions going largely unheard.

A prolonged shutdown could result in thousands of complaints of dangerous working conditions going unchecked, unmonitored and unenforced. This could mean that the threat to workplace accidents could exponentially increase. Without a regulating body, there is no one to ensure that employees always have a safe working environment.

In the event you are exposed to a workplace accident in Pennsylvania and are injured, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Regardless if the injury or illness happened completely by accident or at the fault of a coworker, employer or even yourself, workers’ compensation benefits will cover medical bills and lost wages. For help understanding the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation process and obtaining much-needed benefits, seek legal care from Mednick, Mezyk & Kredo. Call us today at 888-807-WORK (9675) for a free consultation.