Yesterday, President Obama signed an order to have federal agencies improve workplace safety standards by 2014.

The four year plan asks federal agencies to improve workplace safety in order to reduce the number of claims made a year by federal employees, as well as the number of federal dollars spent a year on workers’ compensation.  In 2009, 79,000 new claims were filed by federal employees and over $1.6 billion was spent by the federal government on workers’ compensation.

“Many of these work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and executive departments and agencies can and should do even more to improve workplace safety and health, reduce the financial burden of injury on taxpayers, and relieve unnecessary suffering by workers and their families,” stated Obama.

If you or someone you love has been injured or become ill on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.