Millions of Americans tune into reality TV shows like Deadliest Catch and Big Timber for an inside look at the two most dangerous jobs in America: logging and commercial fishing. And even though logging was America’s most deadly job in 2021 at 82.2 deaths per 100,000 workers, you don’t have to get tangled in a runaway fishing net or whacked by a falling tree to get hurt on the job.  Every day, 14 Americans go to work and never come home. Every year, 2.6 million more suffer debilitating injuries. All workers deserve a safe workplace and yet, the number of…

Did you know that under Arizona law you have a right to access your medical records?  Medical records, also known as health records, are an important thing to have because it gives you better knowledge about your own care, including how to approach certain medical decisions.  Thankfully, the federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule gives all U.S. citizens the right to see and obtain a copy of their health records. Under this federal law you also have the right to not only access the information but also to make corrections as needed.  Most…

The first known death due to asbestos was in 1906. In the 1970s, court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of its dangers since the 1930s and had concealed them from the public. It wasn't until 2002 that asbestos mining ended in the U.S. with the closing of the last U.S. asbestos mine. And yet, asbestos is still not banned in this country, exposing millions of people to the long-term effects of this dangerous chemical. In fact, from 1999-2017, there were 5,157 asbestos-related deaths in Arizona.  So why are these chemicals still allowed and used in the United States?…

The bad news? Traffic fatalities in Arizona rose for the third straight year in 2022 according to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report.  There were 1,294 traffic fatalities across the state (pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist deaths all increased last year), which is the second-highest total ever recorded in Arizona.  What has caused the number of traffic fatalities to go up every year since 2019? The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) says, “Figures show crashes associated with inappropriate speed and speeding accounted for a greater share of deaths and injuries, providing a sobering reminder for Arizonans to avoid such unsafe…

Construction is a risky business. If you’re not operating with the utmost safety standards at all times, site accidents can cause serious injuries, including permanent disability, loss of a limb, a traumatic brain injury, blindness, broken bones, or even death.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, nearly one in five workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry, with just over one-third of all fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips (which represents an increase of 5.9 percent). And in Arizona, the private construction industry sector had 20 fatal workplace injuries in 2020, just over 20 percent…