What to do if Hurt at Work

Posted by admin on February 12, 2010  |  No Comments

• Report the injury or exposure immediately to a supervisor or HR employee who is authorized to take an injury report, not a coworker or team leader.
• If necessary, seek immediate medical care. If you are still at work, ask your employer to provide the transportation.
• If immediate medical care is not needed, consult with one of your employer’s panel physicians as soon as possible. Panel physicians are frequently referred to as “company doctors.”
• Be certain to give to the physician a complete and accurate description of how the injury or exposure occurred and what injuries you have suffered.
• Do not use your private or employer-provided health insurance. Tell the health care providers to bill your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If possible, get a claim number from the compensation carrier to provide if insurance information is needed.
• Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all eye-witnesses who saw what caused your injury.
• Preserve physical evidence whenever possible, especially if a defective piece of machinery or equipment is involved. If you can, take photographs of the scene of the accident.
• Write down the details of the event as soon as possible, while they are still fresh in your mind. Be thorough and accurate. This will help you to recall the event at a later date if necessary.
• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING except your witness or accident statement until you have consulted with your attorney.
  And the most important advice that we can give you is this…
• Be safety conscious. Keep alert for dangerous conditions around the workplace. When you discover a potentially dangerous condition, report it to your supervisor. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Remember, the only good injury is the one that never happens.

Construction Accidents

Posted by admin on November 9, 2009  |  No Comments

Many enlightened construction firms are improving safety conditions for their employees. This translates to safer work sites, better safety equipment for workers, and effective accident injury monitoring and reporting. Programs prompted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state agencies encourage firms to appoint Safety and Training Officers, prepare written safety plans, and issue hazard communications. Construction companies are also utilizing safety manuals, videos, and interactive materials to train their employees.
Unfortunately, there are still many construction firms that fail to follow appropriate safety and training procedures. Accordingly, we are continuing to see alarming headlines such as this: OSHA Cites Florida Construction Company for Exposing Workers to Potential Fatal Falls, Proposes Penalties of $456,000. See OSHA’s Web page for additional breaking news and information about the construction industry.

For Example:  

A construction worker suffered back and hip fractures and other injuries when a gust of wind blew him off of a bridge. The worker the contractor for negligence in failing to provide a safe workplace and safety equipment that would have prevented the fall. The parties settled prior to trial, and the worker is now a safety director.