Articles Posted in Workers Compensation

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Occupational safety advocates warn, late-night gas station and convenience store clerks are at a heightened risk of workplace violence. The Enterprise reports, “the clerks, attendants and cashiers who staff the counters at gas stations and corner grocery stores, often alone and late into the night, are among the most vulnerable to workplace violence and harassment, falling victim to on-the-job attacks at a rate that approaches law enforcement officers and people who work with the mentally ill.”

Young workers are particularly vulnerable to “inappropriate or threatening behavior,” the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health tells media. The coalition reports, those under 25-years-old are “twice as likely to be injured on the job…and often know little about their workplace rights.”

The coalition offers training sessions and urges employers to:

  • Think about how the physical setup of their stores affects the safety of their workers.
  • Keep businesses well lit.
  • Invest in appropriate security systems.
  • Make sure windows are clear.
  • Train employees how to handle confrontation with a verbally abusive costumer.
  • Train employees how to respond to a robbery or violent situation.

Read more at The Enterprise.

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Workers have a right to a safe and secure workplace. According to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) report, “late-night retail establishments, such as convenience stores, liquor stores, and gasoline stations, experience relatively high homicide and assault rates.” Employers must protect late-night retail workers and patrons exposed to this potential for violence by taking a proactive approach to security and violence prevention.

Read highlights of OSHA’s “Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments” below:

 Risk Factors
A number of factors put late-night retail workers at risk. These include:
  • The exchange of money (making them targets for robbery);
  • Solo work and isolated work sites;
  • The sale of alcohol;
  • Poorly lit stores and parking areas; and
  • Lack of staff training in recognizing and managing escalating hostile and aggressive behavior.

Violence Prevention Programs

At a minimum, workplace violence prevention programs should:

  • Establish a clear policy for workplace violence, verbal and nonverbal threats and related actions. All personnel employed in the retail establishment should know the policy.
  • Ensure that no worker who reports or experiences workplace violence faces reprisals.
  • Encourage workers to promptly report incidents and suggest ways to reduce or eliminate risks. Require records of incidents to assess risk and measure progress.
  • Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace. The plan should include establishing a liaison with law enforcement representatives and others who can help identify ways to prevent and mitigate workplace violence.
  • Assign responsibility and authority for the program to individuals or teams with appropriate training and skills. Ensure that adequate resources are available and that those responsible for the program develop expertise on workplace violence prevention in late-night retail settings.
  • Affirm management commitment to an environment that places as much importance on worker safety and health as on serving store patrons.

Know Your Rights

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(11 Alive News)

(11 Alive News)

Security Failure? Our Legal Take: East Point McDonald’s Employee Shot, Injured in Robbery

Local News

An East Point McDonald’s employee was reportedly shot and injured during an armed robbery Tuesday night, March 22, 2016.

According to 11 Alive News, the armed robbery occurred around 8:00pm “at the McDonald’s in the 7400 block of Old National Highway” in East Point. At least one of the assailants apparently opened fire during the robbery, striking and injuring an employee, before fleeing the scene on foot.

Police have not yet identified the suspects.

Our Legal Take

The Murray Law Firm questions whether this horrific incident may have been prevented and the level of security provided to employees and patrons of this restaurant and its parking lot, particularly given reports of prior violence in the area. East Point was ranked as the “Nation’s Most Dangerous Suburb” in 2014, per media reports. Further, OSHA warns, “[m]any workplaces, like restaurants, can be a target for workplace violence because of the presence of cash, the late work hours and contact with the public.”

By law, a worker injured in the course and scope of employment is entitled to numerous benefits under the workers’ compensation system of Georgia.  Additionally, business owners are required to protect all individuals legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the facts of this matter reveal that an entity other than the victim’s employer failed to provide adequate security, the victim of this horrific crime may be able to pursue both a workers’ compensation claim and a negligent security case.

Based upon its long, extensive, and successful experience in handling workers’ compensation claims and negligent security cases in the State of Georgia, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.

We Fight for Victims of Workplace Accidents and Property Violence in Georgia …Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe workplaces in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 404.842.1600. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
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