Workplace injuries are up in Oregon

A piece on JAM'N 107.5 says the following:

As a result of January’s winter weather, more Oregon workers were injured from slips, trips, and falls due to snow or ice than during any other storm since January 2017.

SAIF, Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation company, received 414 claims in January related to slips, trips, and falls from snow or ice. This included 151 in SAIF’s Northern region, which includes the Portland metropolitan area. It also includes 58 in SAIF’s valley region, including Salem—the highest number of these types of claims ever received in one quarter in the region.

“Significant ice and snow accumulation is uncommon in many parts of Oregon and it’s easy to forget some of the simple precautions you can take to prevent injury when the weather deteriorates,” said Kyle DeHart, senior safety management consultant in SAIF’s Portland office. “As soon as you see the potential for snow or ice in the forecast, consider talking with your employees about winter weather safety and ways they can prepare.”

The piece then goes on to borrow some commonsense suggestions from SAIF about how to best avoid slips, trips and falls. The advice given isn't wrong or bad advice, but workplace safety depends on workers knowing their rights and using them. Having a union and a strong union contract with health and safety language and having union stewards on site who will enforce the contract are essential. Here and here are two good places to start.