Opinion ID: 1154257
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Phillips' work history

Text: During 1975 and 1976, Phillips worked as a heavy duty mechanic for a number of employers associated with the trans-Alaska pipeline. The work generally involved shifts of ten hours per day, seven days per week for nine weeks, followed by two weeks off. Phillips would typically quit a job before completing the nine-week shift, take a vacation, and then begin a new mechanic's job with another employer. In 1975, Phillips worked for five employers, earning a total of $29,092.39. In 1976, Phillips worked for nine employers, including appellee Houston Contracting, Inc. He worked for Houston from July 8 until August 13, when he was injured. Phillips' total earnings in 1976 from January until August 13 were $19,883.68, a weekly average of $621.37. Of this, Phillips earned $6,892.41 from Houston. His average weekly earnings while working for Houston were $1,303.97. Although he took breaks between jobs, Phillips worked an average of over 40 hours per week during the 27 weeks preceding August 13. His hourly wages had steadily increased during 1975 and 1976 and were at their highest while he was working for Houston. Phillips' wages at Houston were the same as those earned by other heavy-duty mechanics with similar experience on the North Slope. On August 13, 1976, while in Houston's employ, Phillips was injured. Houston began paying Phillips workers' compensation benefits effective the next day, [1] and has paid benefits continuously since 1976. [2]