Workplace Covid-19 Dangers
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Workplace Covid-19 Dangers | Concerns About Returning to Work

Workplace Covid-19 Dangers

What is a virus? It is an ultra-microscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals – composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope.

Every virus is truly unique, which makes them very hard to identify, treat, or kill. Polio, HIV/Aids, MERS, and Ebola are just a few viruses that have spread through the human population worldwide and killed many people. Cures for viruses are rare, there is usually only treatment and hopefully a vaccine to prevent further proliferation.

We do know that people can cut down on spreading the Covid-19 virus by maintaining a safe distance away from other people, washing hands, keeping hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth, and avoiding the droplets from other people’s coughs and sneezes. This situation is very fluid, however, and exact precautions for Covid-19 are not completely established. Current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) are minimum precautions and everyone should remain vigilant for updates.

Millions of people have been sent home from their jobs, some on a temporary basis and many don’t know if they will ever return. As people are called back to work there are fears that being in close contact with other employees may be dangerous, and time will tell if reopening businesses is a good course of action or not.

It is the responsibility of every employer to provide a safe workplace, and enforcement of requirements to do so rests with Federal agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as state, county, and local authorities.

Can an Employer Force You to Return to Work?

No one can be forced to work if they don’t feel safe, but in some states an employer may terminate an employee if they don’t come to work. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, issued an executive order in early April prohibiting companies from firing people who stay home for certain coronavirus related reasons. Each instance will depend on existing laws for the particular area and the future legal ramifications for these issues is yet to be determined.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 gives workers the right to refuse to work if they feel workplace conditions may place them in imminent harm. The Act states, in part, that employers must provide a workplace that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”Workplace Covid-19 Dangers

You may work in an office, a factory, restaurant, or any other place – the employer must follow the rules for your safety. If you believe that you have become ill or you have been injured because your employer did not provide a safe workplace you should ask an attorney to explain your options and your rights to protect yourself and get immediate treatment.

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has helped victims injured in Florida due to the carelessness, negligence, and malpractice of others since 1992. We are available 7 days a week at (954) 356-0006 and our consultations are completely free and confidential.

Cruise Ship Covid-19 Attorneys
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Covid-19 Exposes Cruise Industry Dangers and Negligence – Cruise Ship Coronavirus Attorneys

Cruise Ship Covid-19 Attorneys

The Covid-19 crisis has made us all far more aware of our surroundings related to our contact with others and the precautions we implement to protect ourselves from contagious diseases. We have taken for granted that our homes, workplaces, and places we frequent for shopping or leisure activities are clean and free from harmful germs.

When you think about being in an enclosed space with other people, elevators come to mind. If you have ever been on an elevator or in a movie theater when someone coughs or sneezes, the first thing you want to do is get away!

If you are prudent you wash your hands frequently and avoid being too close to people you don’t know for long periods of time.

Traveling on an airplane puts you in an enclosed space for a period of time, but usually only a couple hours. Trips in a taxi or commuter train are usually fairly short. Taking a cruise, however, is often several days or even weeks, and the precautions taken by cruise lines against airborne and food-borne illnesses have long been in doubt.

According to the International Air Travel Association, most aircraft have robust filter systems. Except for some smaller or much older aircraft, airplanes are equipped with True High-Efficiency Particle Filters (True HEPA) or High-Efficiency Particle Filters (HEPA).

Cruise Ship Covid-19 AttorneysOn the other hand, an article in US News and World Report  said “Air quality on cruise ships can be five times worse than on the streets of smog-choked Beijing, according to a new report by a Johns Hopkins University researcher.”

Even if you have a roomy and comfortable suite on a cruise ship, crew members are often forced into accommodations that are very cramped and unclean. Passengers come into contact with crew members constantly and there is no way to know if they have been screened for contagious diseases. Health experts have called cruise ships “incubators” for several viruses because people are confined to enclosed, unsanitary spaces for indeterminate periods of time.

The numbers of cruise ship passengers infected with Covid-19 is alarming, and there is mounting evidence that the companies that own and operate the vessels were aware of the dangers to passengers long ago.

Future generations will look back at this time of uncertainty and illness and judge us on our actions. Did we do everything we could to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and were corrective measures put in place, or did greedy corporations place profits above people?

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been putting people first since our start in 1992. People who are made sick or injured because of the carelessness, negligence, or malpractice of others can feel confident we will fight for their right to justice. The law provides a means for victims to receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost time from work. We have been challenging the large cruise lines for many years and we understand how to get results.

Please call us at (954) 356-0006 for a free consultation if you believe you were injured or made ill on a cruise ship.

Covid 19 Workplace Attorneys
| Arleen Lazarus | 0 Comments | Coronavirus |

As Employees Return to Their Jobs Will They be Safe?

Covid 19 Workplace Attorneys

Employers Must Address Legitimate Fears About Covid-19 in the Workplace

Everyone has heard about “the flu season” but many people don’t know why it happens at a certain time each year. Contrary to popular belief, going out in the cold does not cause the common cold or the flu. People get sick when they come in contact with germs and that tends to happen more often when people gather indoors and are close to one another.

The flu season usually starts in the fall, partly because that’s when kids and teachers go back to school and they are suddenly mixed together indoors. The impact of the weather is simply that when it gets cold outside, people gather inside.

Covid-19 in the Workplace

Now we are faced with a truly unique situation. People who have been working from home will start moving back into workplaces in office buildings, factories, stores, and schools all at the sameCovid 19 Workplace Attorneys time. It’s not certain what will happen, but surely it will be imperative for employers to follow the common-sense precautions that have been recommended by the CDC:

  • Social Distancing
  • Hand Washing Stations and Hand Sanitizer Must be Provided
  • Face Masks and Face Shields
  • Thoroughly Clean all Surfaces Daily
  • Employees Who Demonstrate Symptoms Must be Tested and Separated from Others

Covid-19 Employer Responsibility

Employers must follow the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause, which requires every employer to “furnish to each of employee a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” If someone contracts a serious illness and they believe it was because of an unsafe workplace, they should seek legal advice.

Covid 19 Workplace Attorneys

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been committed to help victims of serious injuries and illnesses caused by others. Coronavirus illnesses and deaths caused by negligent employers must be identified and brought to light so victims can be compensated for their sickness, medical bills, and loss of income. We are here to listen to your story and can set up a telephone or online consultation if you call (954) 356-0006.

CDC Guide to Properly Wearing a Cloth Face Covering