Workers compensation

What is required for state courts to provide proper language access?

1 Comment / Ethics, Legal Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / November 24, 2016 / Court, court interpreter, ethics, interpreter ethics, interpreters, Legal Interpreting, simultaneous, spanish, Workers compensation

Federally funded state courts are required to provide language services to all people, regardless of the language they speak or their English proficiency. Failure to provide access can interfere with the capacity of state courts to accurately evaluate the facts and fairly administer justice. Below is a list of six essential steps every state must […]

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When Good People Are Unethical- Transparency (Interpreting)

1 Comment / Ethics, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / November 19, 2016 / ethics, interpret, interpreter ethics, interpreter training, interpreting, language services, Medical interpretation, medical interpreter, workers comp., Workers compensation

Imagine this, instead of hiring a professional interpreter who is familiar and cognizant of the code of ethics, an untrained bilingual person is hired to simply cover the assignment. Without proper knowledge and training, the bilingual person serving as an “interpreter” will most likely unconsciously commit serious ethical violations while at the same time thinking

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When Workers’ Compensation and Hospital Interpreters Collide (personal experience #3)

1 Comment / Ethics, Experience, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting / Jeffrey Alfonso / October 28, 2016 / Assuring accuracy for your peace of mind, ethics, Hospital Interpreter, interpreter ethics, Medical interpretation, medical interpreter, workers comp., Workers compensation

I arrived at the hospital, ready to interpret for a very nervous patient. For almost an entire year, I had provided interpretation for the patient at doctors’ appointments, physical therapy, and even for medical tests. I was there when the doctor first prescribed tests while sending him to physical therapy. I accompanied him for physical

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Why do Court Interpreters Need this Information?

1 Comment / Ethics, Legal Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / EOAlfonso / September 30, 2016 / court interpreter, interpreter ethics, language services, Legal Interpreting, simultaneous, spanish, workers comp., Workers compensation

Trials are expensive. A good number of lawyers love them. Some attorneys hate them. Many persons have vowed to have their day in court, and that day usually involves a trial. Disagreements are why trials exist. When individuals cannot agree or are at an impasse, this formal examination is brought before a competent court of

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Hospital and Workers Comp Interpreters – Why have 2?

1 Comment / Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / September 20, 2016 / court interpreter, ethics, Hospital Interpreter, interpreter ethics, Medical interpretation, medical interpreter, workers comp., Workers compensation

It is common for workers’ compensation (WC) interpreters to be assigned to accompany a patient to all his medical visits. When they arrive at the doctor’s office, they discover that the doctor is affiliated with a hospital; therefore, a hospital interpreter is also provided. By policy, the hospital must have its interpreter present to

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When Good People Interpreting Are Unethical

1 Comment / Ethics, Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting / Jeffrey Alfonso / August 19, 2016 / ethics, Hospital Interpreter, Legal Interpreting, Medical interpretation, medical interpreter, spanish, workers comp., Workers compensation, workers' comp

Imagine this scenario. Instead of hiring a professional interpreter, familiar and cognizant of the code of ethics, an untrained bilingual person is hired to simply cover the assignment, a warm body. Without proper knowledge and training, the bilingual person who interprets most likely will unconsciously commit serious ethical violations, all the while believing she is

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Lightning Safety

1 Comment / OSHA, Safety / Jeffrey Alfonso / August 6, 2016 / lightning safety, Safety, Safety tips, workers comp., Workers compensation

Recently in the news, four people working at a peach farm were sent to the hospital after being struck by lightning in South Carolina. One woman was struck by lightning while de-boarding a plane in Columbia. Lightning struck the Taqueria los Compadres restaurant in Murrells Inlet one Wednesday afternoon, sending three people to the hospital

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How can you ensure your legal interpreter is skilled?

3 Comments / Ethics, Experience, Legal Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Translation, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / July 16, 2016 / court interpreter, interpreting, language services, Legal Interpreting, simultaneous, spanish, Workers compensation

First and foremost, there is no room for mistakes for interpreters in a legal proceeding. A mistake with just one word can be detrimental to a person’s life, liberty, and future, resulting in a grave injustice. The nuances of language in a court case demand complete familiarity with legal terminology and fluency in the languages

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Wild West for Workers’ Compensation Interpreters

1 Comment / Interpreting, Medical Interpreting, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / July 12, 2016 / interpreter ethics, interpreting, Medical interpretation, medical interpreter, workers comp., Workers compensation

Workers’ compensation interpreters hired by insurance companies are typically subcontracted through a language agency. Language agencies then subcontract out to individual entrepreneurs who are responsible for their own continuing education and training. This unregulated process often results in a long list of common problems. I have given much thought to the occasional conflicts that

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Scorching Summer Safety

1 Comment / OSHA, Safety, Spanish Interpreting, Workers' Comp / Jeffrey Alfonso / July 2, 2016 / Heat safety, Legal Interpreting, Safety, Safety tips, Safety training, summer, tips for working in the heat, Workers compensation

This is turning out to be one of the hottest summers ever! If you work outside, please bear in mind these important heat stress safety tips. Often limited English speaking employees are under the impression that safety guidelines don’t apply to them. They often work harder and take more risks, which can be a real

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What is required for state courts to provide proper language access?

When Good People Are Unethical- Transparency (Interpreting)

When Workers’ Compensation and Hospital Interpreters Collide (personal experience #3)

Why do Court Interpreters Need this Information?

Hospital and Workers Comp Interpreters – Why have 2?

When Good People Interpreting Are Unethical

Lightning Safety

How can you ensure your legal interpreter is skilled?

Wild West for Workers’ Compensation Interpreters

Scorching Summer Safety

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