Raleigh Workplace Injury Lawyers | Scudder & Hedrick

National Workers Memorial Day

Posted on May 4th, 2011 No Comments

On April 28th, communities and workplaces across the country recognized National Workers Memorial Day. The first Workers Memorial Day was recognized in 1989 and was assigned its date because it marks the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act signed in 1971.

The day is recognized every year to memorialize workers injured or killed performing work duties. Workers Memorial Day was honored by the United Nations in 2001 as World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

According to the latest U.S. worker injury and fatality figures, 4,340 were killed on the job in 20o9. In addition, 50,000 people were estimated to have passed away from occupational diseases. Furthermore, 4.1 million people reported being injured or becoming ill in workplaces.

Teacher attacked, school district considers tighter security

Posted on February 22nd, 2011 No Comments

On the first of the month, a teacher at Alderman Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina was attacked while trying to get some work done after hours. The pre-Kindergarten teacher was in the school’s parking lot at around 7:45 P.M. when a man approached her with a gun, tied her up and locked her in a closet at the school. The man also stole her credit cards and SUV.

Now, district officials are considering implementing tighter security measures at schools after working hours. ”It could have been any employee. This person is just someone trying to do a good job and trying to do the right thing in terms of what they’re focusing on in the classroom,” said chief of staff for Guilford County Schools Nora Carr.

If you or someone you know has been injured while on the job in Raleigh, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more about your rights as an employee.

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OSHA investigating tragic St. Louis forklift accident

Posted on February 15th, 2011 No Comments

Officials from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating a fatal workplace accident in St. Louis. The accident occurred earlier this month at around 12:20 P.M. at the Supervalu Distribution Center.

Accident reports state that 53-year old worker Donald C. Mitchell was operating a forklift at the distribution center when something caused him to be thrown from the machine. One witness to the accident told police officers that after hearing an uncharacteristic commotion, he looked and saw boxes of Cambell’s Soup falling and then Mitchell being thrown from the forklift. The witness said that Mitchell’s body ran into a rail and then his back and head hit the floor.

Investigators are waiting to receive documents about the forklift’s maintenance. Paramedics rushed Mitchell to a nearby hospital but he passed away less than 3 hours after the accident.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mitchell’s family and friends during this difficult time.

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Construction worker injured in trench collapse accident

Posted on January 26th, 2011 No Comments

Earlier this month, a construction worker was injured after a trench collapse trapped him in a 3-foot deep trench for about 25 minutes. The construction accident occurred at around 12:50 in the afternoon at the intersection of Washington and Boddie Streets in Nashville, North Carolina.

Firefighters and emergency crews from Nasville, the Momeyer Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Nash County Emergency Medical Services responded at the scene of the accident to help extricate the worker. Police reports state that a piece of concrete that fell into the trench was on top of his leg, trapping him. Fortunately, the victim was not in a life-threatening situation and rescue crews were able to pull him out of the trench within half an hour.

EMS officials transported the construction worker to Nash General Hospital for treatment of leg injuries and observation.

To discuss filing for workers’ compensation benefits if you or someone you love has been injured in a construction or other workplace accident, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 today.

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Worker killed in manhole construction accident

Posted on January 12th, 2011 No Comments

Two people were injured and one man was wrongfully killed in a construction accident last week in Winston-Salem. The accident occurred Wednesday, January 5 at around 10 A.M. when two of the workers were working in a manhole to replace valves on the raw water pipeline running between the Thomas Water Treatment Plant and Salem Lake.

While in the manhole, gas fumes began to leak into the space and overwhelm the construction workers. A third man attempted to pull the incapacitated workers from the manhole but also became overwhelmed by the fumes. Emergency Medical Services officials rescued the three men and transported them to the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. One of the workers, 62-year old Herman Wilson, later passed away at the hospital.

Reports indicate that the workers were employed by J. Ramey Construction, LLC. Investigators from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating what caused gas fumes to leak into the manhole.

Our utmost sympathies go out to Wilson’s family and friends.

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Chemical accident at N.C. poultry plant caused by ammonia leak

Posted on January 7th, 2011 No Comments

This week, a chemical accident occurred at the House of Raeford poultry processing plant in Raeford, North Carolina. Officials from the company say that they noticed a leak at 2:30 P.M. on Wednesday and while attempting to repair it, another leak occurred. About 6,000 pounds of ammonia were released from the plant in the chemical accident causing one worker to go to the hospital and 800 people living nearby to evacuate.

The poultry producer has come under harsh criticism in the past years for their working conditions and ability to evade strict fines from the N.C. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This week’s accident makes the third chemical accident at a House of Raeford plant in the past 8 years. Exposure to ammonia can cause serious, and even somtimes fatal, respiratory complications.

If you or someone you love has suffered respiratory complications from exposure to a harmful chemical due to unsafe working conditions, contact the Raleigh lung diseases attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 today.

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1 killed, 4 injured in Kentucky workplace accident

Posted on December 15th, 2010 No Comments

Federal OSHA investigators are looking into a workplace accident that killed one worker and injured four others at the Gallatin Steel property in Ghent, Kentucky last month. The company employs around 45 workers at the location.

The accident occurred at 3:27 P.M. in a garage on the Gallatin Steel property owned by Harsco Corp. when the workers were attempting to change a front loader vehicle’s tire. Front loader vehicle tires are typically between 10 to 12 feet tall. While working on the vehicle, the tire exploded.

48-year old Robin H. Kelley died as a result of the injures he incurred in the accident at Carroll County Memorial Hospital. The site’s manager, 50-year old David Davanzati, was taken to the University of Cincinnati Hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. In addition, three other workers were taken to area hospitals and treated for various injuries.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Kelley’s family and friends.

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North & South Carolina report low rate of injuries

Posted on November 30th, 2010 No Comments

Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that both North and South Carolina rank among the lowest rates of workplace accidents and injuries in the country. Other states with low ratings included Texas, New York, Virginia and Louisiana.

In 2009, North Carolina reported an all-time state low rate of 3.1 workplace injuries per 100 full-time employees. This is down from a rate of 3.4 in 2008. In addition, South Carolina had a low rate of 3.2 injuries per 100 full-time employees, up just .1 percent from 2008.

Last month, officials from the federal OSHA and the U.S. Labor Department became concerned that North and South Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health Administrations were not punishing companies and employers that commit workplace safety violations harshly enough. While the average federal OSHA fine is $970, the average North Carolina OSHA fine is $512 and the average South Carolina OSHA fine is $281. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is concerned that the low rates are a reflection of employers not reporting incidents workplace injuries.

To discuss filing a workers’ compensation claim, contact an experienced Raleigh workplace injury lawyer of Scudder & Hedrick PLLC at 919-851-3311 to learn more.

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Man killed in peanut factory manufacturing accident

Posted on November 16th, 2010 No Comments

A man was wrongfully killed in a manufacturing accident last week at the Seabrook Ingredients peanut processing factory in Edenton, North Carolina. The plant does dry roasting and creates peanut extract and peanut butter.

According to an Edenton police report, police received a call about a manufacturing accident at around 11:40 A.M. last Thursday morning. Upon arrival at the plant, police found 25-year old Steven Phelps dead. Investigators believe that the harness Phelps was wearing became trapped in a piece of machinery he was using at the plant.

The North Carolina Department of Labor will continue to investigate this tragic workplace accident for another three to four months.

Our utmost sympathies go out to Phelps’ family and friends.

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Worker dies at Raleigh recycling plant

Posted on November 9th, 2010 No Comments

Last week, a fatal workplace accident occurred at the Sonoco Recycling plant in Raleigh. There were no witnesses to the accident. Officials from the North Carolina Department of Labor are investigating the incident to determine what caused the accident and if anybody should be held responsible.

According to a Sonoco spokesperson, the accident occurred at around 9:30 P.M. last Wednesday evening at their plant on South Rogers Lane. The victim has been identified as 39-year old Simon Martinez. Martinez had been under contract with a staffing company to work at the plant since March. Company officials said that he often operates a forklift but was not on the machine at the time of the accident.

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