Federal authorities ordered Don M. Barron Contractor to pay over $152,000 in fines after investigators determined that bosses sent workers into a potentially dangerous work injury situation; two of them fell seriously ill after they inhaled toxic fumes.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued seven safety citations: six for serious violations and one for a willful violation. Investigators concluded that the company sent sewer workers into a confined space without first testing the atmosphere. Two employees completely lost consciousness and were rushed to nearby hospitals. “This employer must take responsibility for making sure these types of injuries and the potential for loss of life do not happen again,” declared OSHA area director Dorinda Folse. [Read more…] about Reckless Injuries To Sewer Workers
Workers Compensation Benefits
Sooner State Stands Up For Injured Workers
Neighboring Texas is the only remaining state that allows employer to opt out of the workers’ compensation system after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that such a system upset the so-called Grand Bargain.
Three years ago, large retailers and other large employers convinced Oklahoma lawmakers to pass a law that allowed them to self-insure against workplace injuries; after a successful push in the Sooner State, advocates introduced similar bills in Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and several other states as part of a nationwide push to effectively dismantle the workers’ compensation system. But the tables started to turn when a national media outlet published a study that opt-out plans meant substantially lower benefits for injured workers. Next, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that a rather arcane attorneys’ fee structure was unconstitutional, and the move is expected to give injured workers more options. Earlier this year, Oklahoma’s highest court struck down a provision that sharply curtailed benefits for permanently disabled workers. [Read more…] about Sooner State Stands Up For Injured Workers
I Wish I Could Hear You…
22 million American workers suffer partial or total permanent hearing loss on the job each year, making this condition the most common workplace injury claim.
The number of claims – which come largely from construction, manufacturing, and mining operations – cost an estimated $242 million per year, according to the Department of Labor. In response, the government has launched an aggressive educational campaign designed to help employers know about available noise-reduction technologies. However, critics say that poor regulation, and not technological underutilization, is to blame. They want the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to update its maximum noise-exposure workplace injury rules to more accurately reflect current conditions and also account for exposure to non-work noise that adds to the cumulative exposure risk. OSHA says that it is considering such actions. [Read more…] about I Wish I Could Hear You…
Road Construction Crews at Risk of Suffering a Workplace Injury
All Louisiana construction workers face dangers at work every day. However, road construction crews have the added hazard of speeding vehicles that pass close to them continuously. This puts each of them at the risk of suffering a workplace injury caused by a third party who failed to slow down and pay attention in the construction zone.
Many road construction projects are done after dark in order to take advantage of lesser traffic. The dangers are evident enough during the daylight hours, but when crews work at night, the risk of injury increases exponentially. Even with the use of lights, reflective vests and other safety measures, it can be difficult to see workers — especially at a high rate of speed.
Two recent accidents on Louisiana 30 prompted the Louisiana State Police to remind drivers that reduced speeds in construction zones are not there to inconvenience them, but instead, they are necessary in order to help protect the people who work in the area. In one accident, a hit-and-run driver seriously injured a man. Authorities were still searching for the vehicle and its driver at last report. The second accident involved a head-on collision that killed a worker.
The injured worker and the family of a deceased worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits as a result of a workplace injury. However, it may also be possible to file third-party claims against the drivers responsible for the accidents in which these men were involved. Successfully litigated claims could result in an award of damages if the negligence of the party or parties deemed responsible is established to the satisfaction of the court.
2 Men Suffer a Fatal Workplace Injury in Louisiana
Workers out in the field in the oil and gas industry understand the potential dangers of their jobs. The volatile liquids and gases they work with could ignite at any time. Two men recently suffered a fatal workplace injury at a gas well in Louisiana.
The two men were focused on a pressure test of the well. For some reason, the high pressure involved in the test caused a component of the well to break free. The two workers suffered fatal injuries to which they succumbed at the job site. A third person suffered injuries for which he was treated at a local hospital. The hospital released him the same day.
No further details concerning the cause of the accident were reported. An investigation is underway by investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with state and local officials. The victims were both from Texas, but the gas well they were working on is located in Lincoln Parish.
Apparently, Wildhorse Operations has no known history with OSHA in Louisiana. Of the nearly 50 wells that Wildhorse has received permission to drill, about half are near the production stage. It could be some time before any information is available regarding the details of the accident.
When a workplace injury occurs, determining its cause may prevent similar incidents in the future. In the meantime, the families of the two deceased men may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover the expense of burying their loved ones. It may also be possible for covered dependents to receive a compensation package for the loss of income. Moreover, the injured worker may also be entitled to benefits — at least to cover any medical attention necessary and time off from work as he struggles to recover.
Louisiana Workers' Compensation: Man Falls From Tree to his Death
Many professions come with inherent dangers that even with the best preparations can still result in serious injury or death. It is for this reason that every Louisiana employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, in some cases, injured workers and their families may also be able to seek additional monetary compensation when an employer is grossly negligent in safeguarding its workers.
It could be some time before it is known whether this was the case in the death of a tree trimmer on Oct. 25. He was at least 50 feet above ground working to trim an oak tree that is partially dead. One of the limbs on the large tree broke and the man ended up tangled in the ropes of his safety harness system when he slipped.
According to the Benton police chief, the man was most likely dead as soon as he struck the ground and nothing anyone could have done would have saved his life. The company the man worked for had contracts with utility companies and government entities to clear tree limbs from power lines to reduce the risk of outages in inclement weather. The work is not unusual at this time of year.
An investigation will be conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to determine whether there were any breakdowns in safety procedures. In the meantime, the man’s family will have to deal with the emotional and financial impact of his death. Under Louisiana law, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to cover certain expenses such as funeral and burial costs. It may be advantageous for this man’s family to seek advice and assistance in this process to ensure they receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled.