Employment Law News

OSHA Joins with New York State Workers' Compensation Board To Reduce Injuries And Illnesses

NEW YORK -- Helping New York State employers reduce and prevent their employees' exposure to workplace safety and health hazards is the goal of a new alliance between the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the New York State Workers' Compensation Board (NYSWCB).

"Our mutual goal is to equip the state's employers and workers with the knowledge to identify workplace hazards and prevent occupational injuries and illnesses," said Patricia K. Clark, OSHA's regional administrator. "We will also inform them about the positive impact of safer workplaces on their bottom line."

Under the alliance, the two agencies will work together to develop and deliver training and education programs to NYSWCB constituents that will utilize job hazard analysis, "safety pays" tools and workers' compensation information. They will also share best practices and effective approaches with industry safety and health professionals.

The alliance will encourage NYSWCB constituents to build relationships with OSHA area offices and will encourage their participation in OSHA's cooperative programs, including the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), safety consultation, strategic partnerships and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

The alliance was signed by Clark; Richard A. Bell, NYSWCB executive director, and the following OSHA area directors: Chris Adams (Syracuse); Diana Cortez (Tarrytown); Arthur Dube (Buffalo); Edward Jerome (Albany); Patricia Jones (Long Island); Robert Kulick (Avenel/Staten Island) and Richard Mendelson (Manhattan).

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	Did You Know?
	There are laws about missed days and injury pay claims at your employment place By law, you must be unable to work for seven days (including weekends and holidays) before you are eligible for temporary disability benefits. Benefits are retroactive to the first day. The seven days need not be consecutive. Please note that there is no similar waiting period to receive medical benefits or permanent disability benefits. Those benefits are due, if warranted, regardless of the number of lost workdays.