Workers’ Compensation Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jeff Stickle, Senior Associate April 1, 2020 During the current public health emergency, and the resultant response of a magnitude not seen since polio outbreaks in the 1940’s, employees and employers both are facing unique challenges, some of which may come with serious workers’ compensation consequences. Many “essential” employers remain open, potentially subjecting their employees to exposure to the …

Work-related hearing loss: Entitlement to benefits clarified by the Court in Montgomery County, Maryland v. Cochran & Bowen

One of the most pervasive, yet under-claimed, workplace injuries is hearing loss. Heavy machinery, power tools, lawn equipment, engines, and sirens all have the potential to cause hearing loss with prolonged use or exposure. Police, firefighters, machinists, lawn care workers, and factory workers are all exposed to noise hazards yet we see relatively few hearing loss claims. Hearing loss is …