CPR Safety Services

Layoff news causes heart attack - employee gets compensation
(This is reproduced from posting March 16, by Sam Narisini : As posted in Benefits Law, In this week’s e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, State and local law)

Should employees get workers’ compensation benefits when they develop health problems caused by Job-related stress?  Yes, according to one court.  

Here’s what happened n this recent case: A 60-year-old employee was told her job was geing eliminated after 25 years of working for the employer.  She started crying and got permission from her boss to take the rest of the day off.  At home, about an hour after getting the news, the woman suffered a permanently  heart attack.  Her doctor said she’d been healthy and that the incident was caused by the stress of hearting she was losing her job.

She was awarded accidental disability benefits.  The company appealed, arguing she wasn’t eligible because the injury didn’t occur as a result of her Job duties.  But the court sided with the employee’s doctor.  It was undisputed that the heart attack was caused by the woman’s conversation with her boss.  And since that conversation occurred “during the  the scope  of her employment,” the heart attack was directly related to her job and the woman was eligible for disability benefits.
(Cite: Retirement Board of Salem v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board)

OSHA cracks down on fraudulent safety trainers

May 22, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Now that some states and cities require workers to complete a 10-hour OSHA training course to be hired in certain industries, more fraud has appeared in the training industry.OSHA has established new requirements for trainers to become authorized to teach the 10- and 30-hour training courses in both general industry and construction. Trainers are authorized by completing a one-week course through an OSHA Training Institute Education Center. OSHA has also increased unannounced monitoring visits to verify that trainers are in compliance with program requirements. Trainers caught falsifying information and fraudulently issuing completion cards will face criminal prosecution. Penalties include fines and jail time.

A watch list of trainers who have received disciplinary action will be posted on OSHA’s Web site.You can read more about OSHA’s Outreach Training Program here.

Defibrillator Saves Man's Life On Thanksgiving

Most people think of joyful celebration with family and friends when they think of the holiday season. But the festivities of the holidays also bring
increased eating, drinking, and stress, all which can increase the risk of heart-related deaths. Rick Kezima knows this risk all too well. Thanksgiving
day of last year, Rick collapsed while playing football with his sons. But due to the quick action of his friends, Rick is alive today to share the
holidays with his loved ones once again.

Rick’s experience is a lucky one. His friends have not only have been trained in CPR, but keep a AED in their car. As a state trooper, Rick’s friend is CPR certified. While others thought Rick was joking around, he immediately recognized the symptoms and initiated CPR. As luck would have it, this man’s wife also happened to be a AED distributor. Recognizing the importance of quick access to AED's, she keeps one in the trunk of her car.As others called 911, she quickly retrieved the unit and delivered a shock to Rick’s heart , a shock that was able to keep Rick’s heart beating until the EMS arrived.


Feb, 2009
Rescuer: Michael Trevino
Location: Bakersfield, CA
An employee was slumped in his wheel chair. Michael, the company Instructor, and his team of responders arrived. The victim was unresponsive, 911 was called and Michael and his team helped with CPR and continued non-stop for around seven to eight minutes until the EMS arrived. As of today the victim is in the hospital awake and in good spirits. The Doctor on duty stated that without the efforts of the trained bystanders the victim would not have made it…Michael credits his team for being calm and remembering their training

Submitted by: Carl Dougherty of Public Safety Training, Inc.