Articles Posted in Work Accidents

A picture is worth a thousand words. The company Safety Director of one construction company recently received a picture that cost quite a bit more.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a snapshot of a construction site led to a host of safety violations.

The picture may seem harmless to many at first glance, but when you take a second to look at it you can see a number of dangers. One of the most obvious is a man standing in an opening on the 3rd floor of a building. He was merely inches from falling to the ground with no support from any kind of guard rails or fall protection systems.

Our Cooper City accident lawyers understand that construction workers face some of the most serious risks for fatal work accidents. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were close to 1,000 construction workers killed on the job in 2011. In addition, there are about 150,000 construction site accident injuries each year. Falls are the leading cause of death for these workers, which is why the proper fall protection is vital to keeping these employees safe!

There are a few other red flags in the recent picture released by the NSC. The photo also busts a worker standing on an erected scaffold. Unfortunately, the scaffold is about 20 feet up in their air — meaning a fall would almost certainly result in serious or fatal injuries. The scaffold exceeds the 4:1 height to base ration. The worker isn’t restrained and does not have any kind of fall protection. To make matters even worse, it is reported that the scaffold was never inspected by a competent person.

It’s important to remember that each and every piece of machinery used on a construction site should be inspected before each use. This inspection will help to eliminate any risks for accidents, injuries and even fatalities.

The risks in this picture don’t stop there. If you look over to the right side of it, you’ll see a forklift. It’s picking up two people on a pallet. The forklift is sitting on a dangerous embankment — moved closer to the building to gain access to higher areas!

What you might find most alarming is that one of the people on the forklift pallet isn’t even employed with the company. It’s actually the superintendent’s 16-year-old son! This was all going on while these workers were clearing the wall of excess material.

The bottom line is that workers need to be protected on the job, and it’s difficult with mindless mistakes like the ones captured in this picture. All workers working at least 6 feet above a lower level are required to have the proper fall protection. All workers need to be educated in the proper safety precautions to help to prevent fatal accidents. It’s a team effort!
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Fall accidents are a common hazard in the workplace. Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand that falls can happen when simply walking, climbing a ladder or as a result of a number of workplace hazards.

The truth is we’re all at risk. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 600 workers who were killed and another 212,800 injured because of fall accidents to the same level or to a lower level in 2009.

These kinds of accidents are more likely to happen in the construction industry. This field has the highest frequency of fall-related fatalities of all industries. The retail and wholesale industries have the highest counts of nonfatal fall injuries. Other industries that are likely to experience a lot of fall accidents are material moving and transportation, maintenance and building cleaning, healthcare support and even extraction occupations.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to a workplace’s risks for fall accidents. Some of these factors can include floor holes, unstable walking and working surfaces, slippery floors, unprotected edges, misused fall protection and unsafely positioned ladders.

According to federal safety standards and regulations, there are specific measures and performance-based recommendations to help to keep workers safe and out of fall accidents. Unfortunately, workplaces across the country continue to unnecessarily expose workers to hazards. This overall low safety priority, leaves injury risks and rates alarmingly high.

Fall accidents and injuries are costly, too. Some of the costs associated with these accidents include medical costs, workers’ compensation and loss of productivity. These costs are estimated to be about $70 billion each year. This isn’t only a problem in the U.S. either. The international public health community has a strong interest in developing strategies to reduce the toll of fall injuries.

As a matter of fact, the problem hasn’t gotten any better in recent years. According to Liberty Mutual, the number of these accidents has increased by more than 25 percent from 1998 to 2005. This time period was, ironically, a time when most other causes of workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth.

Tips to Prevent Fall Accidents:

-You’ve first got to understand how these accidents happen, identify your workplace’s trouble areas and work to eliminate or minimize these risks.

-Make sure that all spills are cleaned up immediately.

-Keep walkways well lit.

-Always use the proper fall protection for the job.

-Replace burnt out or flickering bulbs.

-Cover all cables and wires that cross walkways.

-Remove all obstacles from walkways and always keep floors free of clutter.

-Pay attention to what you’re doing at all times.

-Make sure the things you’re carrying do not obstruct your view.
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In a recent statement, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis expressed concern about the number of workers being injured in the health care and social assistance industry. West Palm Beach injury lawyers know that healthcare professionals play a vital role in our state due to the number of older adults needing long-term care and other injured patients in need of medical attention overall.

Much concern is placed on the safety and protection of construction workers as well, as we frequently post about on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog. Not enough is being done to keep these workers sheltered from fall accidents and other work-related injuries to the eyes, hands, arms and various other parts of the body. Employers in any industry have an obligation to protect workers and keep work environments safe and hazard-free.

We know that as the economy bounces back and jobs become more readily available, many industries will see an increase in work-related injuries and deaths in Port St. Lucie, Deerfield Beach and statewide. If you suffer an injury at work, make it a priority to be advised of your rights so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

In recent information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for Florida, 2010 workplace fatalities reached an annual low since deaths first started being recorded in 1992. The preliminary low total of occupational deaths in Florida for 2010 was 215 compared to the high total of 422 recorded in 2004. The sector which includes trade, utilities and transportation reported the most work deaths at 52, with construction not far behind at 40 deaths recorded in 2010. Workers exposed to harmful environments and substances resulted in 12 fatalities on the job. The majority of work deaths were wage and salary workers in 2010 with the leading cause being transportation accidents. Assaults and violence was the leading cause of death for self-employed workers who comprised less than 15 percent of total workplace deaths in Florida.

According to the recent Workplace Illness and Injury report from BLS, private industry employers reported almost 3.1 million cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2010, which equates to roughly 3.5 cases per 100 full-time workers. The 2010 illness and injury statistics presented very little improvement from the 3.6 cases per 100 full-time workers reported in 2009. Over half of the injury and illness cases reported nationwide in 2010 were serious enough to require days off from work, restricted duty or a transfer to another job.

The private construction industry sector reported 4 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010 nationwide compared to the health care and social assistance industry reporting 5.2 cases of illness and injury per 100 full-time workers.

Injury and illness at work estimates are available for 42 states but will not be released until sometime in November.
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Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue recently responded to a call reporting that a landscaper had fallen off of his 20-foot ladder while working on a home on the 600 block of North Victoria Park Road. The man sustained serious injuries during the fall and was transported to Broward General Medical Center, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He was reportedly knocked unconscious when he made the 20-foot drop to the ground below.

According to Fort Lauderdale police, there was a power line located just 6 feet from the tree the man was trimming. Officials spotted a pruner attached to an aluminum pole. Officials believe that the power line was the cause of an explosion and the Fort Lauderdale work accident.

Our Broward injury lawyers understand that lawn maintenance is not only a paid job for some, but a necessity for many. With the beautiful weather year round, yard work, gardening and other outdoor activities are very popular. Workers and residents are urged to be extremely careful when working near powerlines. Always take the proper safety measures to help keep you safe when working at height.

Safety tips for yard work, provided by Alliance: An OSHA Cooperative Program:

-Use mechanical lifting machines to lift heavy objects. Attempting to lift heavy things up yourself can result in serious, permanent and costly injuries to your neck, back and shoulders.

-If you think something weighs more than 50 pounds, ask for help.

-Exercise. Stretch before tackling yard work. Stretching helps to loosen your muscles and to reduce your risks of injury,

-Take breaks often, especially during our hot Florida afternoons.

-Make sure your familiar with the mowing equipment that you’ll be operating. You should be aware of the safety features, the capacity and the characteristics of the machinery.

-Make sure that all areas are prepared in advance. Be sure to move all dangerous objects off of the property before starting work.

-Always wear the proper footwear and protective gear when working in a yard.

-Keep hydrated. It’s hot out there and landscapers are highly susceptible to hear stress if the proper safety precautions are not taken. Drink plenty of water and take plenty of breaks in the shade.

-Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you get a new piece of machinery, don’t be afraid to ask your boss or a store employee about safety tips regarding the use of the product.

-Do not rush. It’s better to not finish the job than to finish quickly and increase your risks of injury.

-Be careful when landscaping around swimming pools. Always cover pools before starting.

According to recent statistics from emergency room and hospital records that were compiled from 1996 to 2004, nearly 663,500 people were taken to the emergency room because of lawn mower accidents. Another 12,000 people were admitted into a hospital for the same incidents.

Mowing hazards are also very common when landscaping. Injuries oftentimes result as cuts, burns and fractured toes. Men landed in the hospital five times more than women during landscaping accidents that involved a lawnmower.

All landscaping employees and residents who enjoy working in the yard are encouraged to be safe. Employers are to ensure that employees are provided with the proper equipment for the job, the proper training for the equipment and the proper safety gear to protect them from possible dangers on the job.
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A worker recently lost his hand in a construction accident in Palm Beach, according to The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach Fire Rescue isn’t sure exactly how the accident happened. Details have not been released.

The worker was transported, with his hand in a cooler, to St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was first taken by private transport but was later picked up by paramedics.

Our workers compensation attorneys in Port St. Lucie, Fellsmere and Fort Pierce understand that our construction workers are at a high risk for serious work-related accidents if the proper safety precautions are not taken by employees and employers.

Federal regulations require that potential work hazards be addressed before an accident can occur. However, third-party liability can result in a personal injury lawsuit as well. Third-party liability refers to an additional party’s involvement in the accident, excluding you or your employer. In these cases, employees cannot sue their employer but are able to go after a subcontractor that contributed to the hazard that caused your injury. If you were involved in a work-related accident, it is critical for you to contact an attorney to help to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation from the deserving party for your injuries.

According to preliminary data released by the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there was very little variation in the disbursement of the number of work-related deaths from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, there were more than 4,500 workers killed from work-related injuries.

“No worker should have to sacrifice his or her life to earn a living,” says Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 12 workers die on the job each day. Since 1970, when the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed, approximately 14,000 workers died from work-related accidents.

As our economy recovers and more residents head back into the work force, on-the-job injuries and fatalities are expected to increase as well.

The 2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries concluded the following:

-The number of work-related deaths among individuals who were self-employed declined a little more than 5 percent. Less than 1,000 people died throughout the year.

-The private mining industry experienced an increase in fatal work accidents of nearly 75 percent from 2009 to 2010.

-Fires contributed to more than 100 work-related fatalities. This illustrated the highest occurrence since 2003.

-Workplace homicides increased among women by nearly 15 percent.

-Police officers witnessed a 40 percent increase in the number of on-the-job deaths. In 2010, more than 130 officers died on duty.

Injuries in the private construction sector have declined by 10 percent from 2009 to 2010. Experts believe that this is because less workers were employed in this industry during the downturn in the economy. Even though the industry experienced a decrease in the number of fatalities from 2009 to 2010, construction worker fatalities still accounted for more work-related injuries than any other industry. As the economy continues to recover, the number of employees grows and the number of hours worked increases, work-related injuries are expected to increase.
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission have held Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to the full sentence and citation for inadequate crowd management.

The incident at issue was the November 2008 death of a worker who was trampled by a crowd at one of the company’s New York locations.

Our Fort Lauderdale premise liability lawyers understand that companies have an obligation to the safety and welfare of workers, customers and guests.

As we previously discussed in our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible if you’ve been involved in an accident on business property. Often times, a business will properly repair a negligent condition after an accident, making it harder to prove their fault in the court of law. It is also important to seek experienced legal advice regardless of the extent of you injury. Falls, in particular, can lead to neck, back and joint injuries, head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, which can be difficult to diagnose in the immediate aftermath of an accident.

Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was issued a citation with a proposed fine of $7,000 for exposing workers to the recognized hazards of asphyxiation or being crushed by a crowd. That fine is the maximum penalty amount allowed under the law for a serious violation. A violation is considered serious when significant harm or death is likely to result from hazards the employer knew or should have known about.

“This is a win for both workers and consumers. It’s only fitting that today the 100th anniversary of the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City where 146 workers lost their lives that a judge affirmed OSHA’s right to protect the safety and health of workers from clearly recognized hazards,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels. “Today’s ruling supports OSHA’s position that, even in the absence of a specific rule or standard, employers are still legally responsible for providing a place of employment free of recognized hazards that are likely to cause serious injury or death. If not properly managed by retailers, a large crowd poses a significant threat to the lives of workers and customers.”
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