Posted on September 8th, 2010
In regards to labor and workplace standards, 85 percent of workers agreed that workplace safety was their top priority in looking at work environments. Workplace safety beat out other common labor issues such as maternity leave, overtime pay, or paid sick leave.
In addition, the study conducted by the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center for the Public Welfare Foundation in Washington showed that 12 percent of workers reported being injured while on the job last year and 37 percent reported needing medical care while on the job. Furthermore, while the majority of workers said they were happy with their workplace’s safety standards, the majority also said they often felt stressed on the job. Stressful workplaces often cause accidents and injury to workers.
Director of the survey, Tom W. Smith, stated, “Workplace safety is too often ignored or accidents taken for granted…It is striking that coverage in the media and public opinion polls have virtually ignored the 11 workers killed by the blowout and destruction of the drilling platform (in the Gulf of Mexico)”.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, contact the Raleigh workplace injury lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on August 24th, 2010
A New York woman’s arm was amputated last Friday afternoon in a manufacturing accident at her job at Brand Packaging Group Inc.. The Long Island Press reported that the accident occurred around 2:30 PM at the Brand Packing Group Inc. plant on Price Parkway.
37-year-old Beatriz Blas of Wyandanch was working on a packing machine at the plant when her arm became stuck in the machine. One of Blas’ coworkers ran to help her when he heard her screams and was able to free her from the machine. Blas was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center by emergency care officials. Later, medical authorities had Blas transferred to Stony Brook University Medical Center where doctors are trying to reattach her arm.
Posted on August 18th, 2010
A young man was killed in a tragic construction accident in Grand Island, Nebraska on Monday afternoon. The 19-year old had recently graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in May.
19-year old Emilio DeLeon was operating a crane by himself while working for Scarborough Construction. DeLeon was using the crane behind Platte Valley Retreaders Inc. on Fourth Street when either his body or the bucket of the crane came into contact with overhead power lines. The contact short circuited the crane. When fire officials rescued DeLeon the bucket of the crane was still in the air in the wires.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to DeLeon’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Posted on August 11th, 2010
On July 26th, two Pennsylvania men were injured in a terrible workplace accident at the AmeriCold shipping and refrigeration company facility in East Manchester Township around 3 AM. The accident occurred when a 1,000 pound dock plate fell onto the two men. One worker was able to get out from underneath and help 23-year old Robert Enfield out as well. Enfield’s head was crushed by the dock plate. Dock plates are metal ramps used to connect the gap between a truck and the floors of a dock.
Enfield and the other worker were rushed to a nearby hospital. The worker was treated for injuries and release not long after. Enfield suffered critical injuries and later passed away on July 31st.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating this terrible accident.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Enfield’s family and friends.
Posted on August 6th, 2010
Yesterday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced proposed fines of $16.6 million against the 3 construction companies and 14 contractors involved in the February 7th plant explosion at Kleen Energy Systems LLC in Middletown, Connecticut.
The workplace accident at the power plant construction site killed 6 workers and injured 50. The accident occurred while the company attempted to clear a supply pipe of debris using flammable natural gas.
The fines come as a result of 371 accusations of workplace safety violations, including 225 considered to be willful. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis stated, “No operation and no deadline is worth cutting corners and costing a single human life”.
Posted on July 1st, 2010
A NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker was killed in a tragic construction accident last Friday after a pile of metal panels fell on top of him.
The accident occurred at the Avenue M station on lines B and Q after the subway contractor began to unload a delivery of metal panels to be used in exterior walls in the elevated subway stations. The worker climbed on top of the delivery and began to unload them when he became unstable and had to jump off. The panels began to slip and fell on top of him before he hit the ground. Each panel was estimated to weigh around 1,000 pounds.
Workers who witnessed the accident say that the delivery was not tied together correctly and was overloaded at the plant.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the construction worker.
Posted on June 23rd, 2010
Four Tennessee Department of Transportation workers were injured in a construction accident yesterday afternoon along Tenn. 424.
The accident occurred on a bridge the TDOT crew was repairing along Tenn. 424 in Carroll County when the crane they were using collapsed. TDOT officials still do not have details on what exactly caused the collapse that injured four workers, but will continue to investigate.
The workers have been identified as Ricky Sanders, Odell March, Richard Stone, and Ron Flemming. Three of the men were transported via helicopter to various Tennessee hospitals, and one was taken in ambulance to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Sanders, March, and Flemming were all released from the hospital, but Stone remains at a Memphis hospital in unknown condition.
TDOT official Nichole Lawrence stated, “Our guys that were there at the time are pretty shaken up…We’re just hoping for the best that everyone recovers as soon as possible…It’s a testament to how dangerous these guys’ jobs are”.
If your or someone you know has been injured in a construction accident, contact the Raleigh construction accident lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on May 28th, 2010
Two construction workers were injured after the ceiling of a UNCG dorm collapsed on two, according to a university official.
Emergency crews responded to the accident at 3 p.m. to the scene and transported two workers to the hospital with leg and knee injuries that were sustained when part of the first floor ceiling of the Mary Foust Hall collapsed on the demolition subcontractors.
Renovations were taking place on a few of the dorms on campus and inlcuding refurbishing bathrooms, replacing windows, and upgrading the fire alarms. The condition of the two men is unknown at this time.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, contact the Raleigh workplace injury lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
