Workers Memorial Day: Reflecting on Those We Lost

Workers Memorial Day:

Reflecting on Those We Lost

April 28, 2021, marked the 50th Anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which revolutionized workplace safety thanks to the determined efforts of the labor movement. For the first time, workers had the right to a safe workplace. Through these first 50 years, workplace fatalities, injuries, and illness have been significantly reduced.

However, this progress has slowed. Nationally, workplace fatality rates have plateaued. The workplace is still too dangerous. Workplace injuries and deaths disproportionately impact workers of color who are more likely to work in dangerous occupations.

Each year on this anniversary we honor those who have been hurt or killed on the job on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, and we reflect on the toll of unsafe work.

Over this past year, through the COVID-19 pandemic, the high cost to California’s essential laborers has reminded us of the work still to be done for worker safety. A study by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center looked at the pandemic’s effect on California workers in high-risk industries. Workers in ten industries experienced an over 30% increase in deaths in 2020.

Warehouse workers, food-chain workers, agricultural workers and food processing workers had the highest increases in pandemic related deaths.

The industries with the highest increases in deaths tend to have a higher rate of immigrant or noncitizen workers. Often these workers live in larger, multi-family households. They earn lower wages and experience much higher rates of poverty.

Despite these grim statistics, dozens of organizations have been working tirelessly through the pandemic to provide resources and support to the most vulnerable populations.

The Street Level Health Project, based in Oakland, provides services to immigrant communities to ensure equitable health access to the uninsured and underinsured. During the pandemic, their team has taken to the streets to provide food, PPE, and vaccination updates including one on one help to day laborers and their families.

The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative is a grassroots organization that works on social issues faced by its mostly female, low income, Vietnamese immigrant workforce. The Collaborative has provided extensive information in English and Vietnamese to salon workers. They meet with and train workers and have supported and educated them through significant language and technological barriers throughout the pandemic.

The full list of the incredible work these organizations are doing can be found here.

Over the last 50 years, OSHA and the work of many organizations have improved the safety and working conditions for countless workers. But as we remember those who lost their lives or were injured at work, we must recognize the inequities that put the poorest and most marginalized workers in the most dangerous jobs and we must continue to fight for safer working conditions.

Article contributed by Modesto applicants' attorney Megan Ruble, Esq., CAAA Executive Committee Secretary

2021 Summer Convention

Registration is Now Open!

CAAA is very excited about our upcoming Summer Convention taking place June 24-27! Although we cannot be together in person just yet, we know that there is hope on the horizon. Our virtual programs in the era of COVID have delivered the same premium content that you’re used to and this Summer Convention will be no exception.

We have an incredible lineup of speakers presenting at this Convention, composed of the top legal and medical experts in workers’ compensation. We ensure that as a Convention attendee, you will be brought up to speed on all of the latest important issues and new case law developments in the workers’ compensation system.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn and improve in your practice by attending our 2021 Summer Convention!

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Become a Sponsor

A big thank you to our Associate members who continue to support CAAA and the workers' compensation community through these unprecedented times.

As we continue to offer education virtually, we would like to give our Associate members an opportunity to showcase their brand during our upcoming events.

We’re inviting our Associate members to take advantage of the below opportunities to present your brand and grow your business.

This is a Virtual Event.

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Upcoming Chapter Meetings

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Santa Clara Chapter presents:

Getting Treatment Authorized: Managing the RFA, UR and IMR Processes to Avoid Treatment Denial

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Brandon Morley

Lunch provided by sponsor PRCMG. This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

Approved Credit: 1 MCLE, 1 LEGAL SPECIALIZATION: This program has been approved for Minimum Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 1.0 hours. This activity has been approved for 1.0 hours of Legal Specialization in Workers Compensation. Provider #1279

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

LAVAAA Chapter presents:

New QME Regs-Labor Code Sec. 35a - Non-Orthopedic QME Perspective

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Zoom Schmooze

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Meeting

Moderator: Kimberley Pryor

Speakers: Kenton Koszdin, Dr. Martin Levine and Dr. Guodong Li

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Greater Inland Empire Chapter presents: In the Room Where It Happened: The New Medical-Legal Fee Schedule

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Moderator: Scott Rubel, Esq.

Guest speakers: Scott Thompson, Suzanne Honor, and Steve Cattolica

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Harbor Chapter presents:

Reset, Recover, Renew: Wellness Strategies for Legal Professionals in the New Normal

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Moderator: Wendy Cantrell

Speaker: Lita Abella

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Southern California Chapter presents:

Welcome Judge Daniel Ter Veer /COVID Cases Updatel

6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Moderator: Scott Ford

Guest speakers: Judge Robert Spoeri, John Floyd, Esq., and Jeffrey Hirsch, MD.

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Central Coast Chapter Presents: New Med/Legal Protocols and What Constitutes Substantial Medical Evidence - Presented by our Central Coast Physicians and Judges

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Moderator: Crystal C. Forsher Participating Physicians:

Peter Newton, MD, Jeffrey Lundeen, MD, Ramon Jimenez, MD,

Rocco Calderone, MD, Daniel Ovadia, MD, Martin Levine, MD, Guodong Li, MD

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

San Diego Chapter Presents: New Med-Legal Fee Schedule: The Doctor’s Perspective

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Moderator: Andrew Lockard, Esq. Speaker: Paul Marsh

Topic: Dr. Paul Marsh, D.C., PQME and treating doctor, gives a doctor’s take on the med-legal fee schedule, and a discussion of how Applicants’ attorneys can help doctors generate substantial medical evidence.

This is an online Zoom meeting. Online registration will be closed at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

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