Female road worker dies in highway construction accident

The nature of a person’s work can involve exposure to many different dangers. This has prompted Kansas and many other states to enact protective laws, such as requiring use of protective equipment and clothing, to ensure the safety of workers in Topeka, Kansas City, and every road in between. Sometimes construction site accidents occur despite workers following the most stringent safety protocols. This is due in part to the nature of construction work, which often involves using heavy machinery and power tools. Thus, the death of a worker in a construction site accident is as much a general safety concern as a tragedy.

A recent incident resulted in the death of a 48-year-old construction worker at a highway site after a dump truck ran over the worker while backing up. Although the truck was moving slowly, and despite the worker wearing a hard hat and a safety vest, she was unable to avoid the vehicle, having only noticed it moments before the accident. Co-workers at the site apparently tried to scream a warning to the worker as well as the 25-year-old truck driver but the noisy environment made it impossible for them to be heard.

A police highway patrol investigation found that the woman, whose task involved routing traffic using signs, was kneeling on the road surface when the truck hit her.

The accident understandably shocked long-time colleagues on site and elsewhere. While her family might consider a legal route for monetary compensation, their loss can never really be adequately recompensed. Victims of construction accidents are usually eligible for workers’ compensation, but compensation amounts are likely to be determined by the insurance limit purchased by the employer. This limit ultimately may prompt a court battle. Having an experienced attorney deal with the legal issues may grant surviving family members the opportunity to grieve in peace.

Source: News9.com, “Edmond Woman Working Construction Killed On Interstate 44“, Allison Harris, March 22, 2014

Kansas woman appeals denial of workers’ compensation claim

Workplace injuries can result in the injured person being unable to continue working for a period of time, and thus also suffer a possible loss of pay. A person in Kansas thus affected can petition for workers’ compensation benefits.

In the case of one woman who claims she suffered shoulder and neck injuries at her workplace, the legal process took an unexpected turn. An administrative law judge determined she had not proved that the neck injury was indeed a workplace injury; the judge did, however, decide that the woman was eligible to be compensated for the shoulder injury, which resulted in a 16 percent permanent partial impairment.

The Kansas Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board later affirmed this decision. The woman believes the decision to be erroneous, and has appealed the verdict to the Kansas Court of Appeals, which was scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case in late March in Leavenworth. The woman also argues that the Board incorrectly computed her average weekly wage.

In order to recover workers’ compensation benefits an injured worker does not have to prove any negligence or fault on behalf of the employer. It is, however, necessary that the injury should have occurred while the employee was in the course and scope of their employment. While worker’s compensation wage loss benefits are less than 100% of the lost wages, they do provide significant relief. Medical and disability benefits are also recoverable. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help an injured worker fight for all the benefits to which they are legally entitled.

Source: LeavenworthTimes.com, “Court of Appeals to hear arguments in Leavenworth,”, March 12, 2014

Firefighter injured battling fire in a house in Kansas

In Kansas, work-related injuries have become quite common. For people whose jobs are risky, such as firefighters, construction workers or workmen engaged in mining industries, incidents of workplace injury are often reported.

Sometimes, a workplace injury leads to major accidents. Injuries and accidents mean huge expenses, loss of a valuable resource and, often, huge medical bills. Who is responsible for workers’ injuries? Who is going to pay all these expenses? These are the questions that the injured victim and the family of the injured person often ask.

In a recent incident in Kansas, a firefighter injured himself after falling down the stairs while battling an early morning house fire. At around 2:15 a.m., the fire was reported and the crew of firefighters rushed to the home. However, there was nobody inside the house. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It caused $60,000 worth of damage.

Organizations should try to provide a safe working environment for the employees. An injury to an employee results in huge loss of resources. Loss of resources is a huge loss of money. Sometimes, employers neglect the safety of the workers in this risky business. According to a U.S. report, every day, 12 people go to work and never return. The family and friends suffer a huge emotional loss as well as financial loss.

If people find themselves in a similar situation, they can claim compensation if the injury occurred in the workplace Workers compensation provides wage benefits and medical benefits to people who have been injured in the workplace. This compensation can help employees as they get back on their feet following a workplace accident.

Source: The Kansas City Star, “Firefighter injured battling Kansas City, Kan., house fire,” Mar. 7, 2014

Measures needed to reduce workplace accidents

Companies in Kansas and every other state are supposed to value their employees so highly that they ensure their safety on the job. Employees are assets for any organization, and if they are injured in the workplace, the company loses.

Unfortunately, workplace accidents have now reached such high levels in some industries, such as oil and gas drilling, that regional news organizations are beginning to investigate not only how and why these industries are failing but also why government at all levels is failing to enforce the very standards they established.

Who is responsible for these accidents? According to one recent investigation, the federal government has failed to implement new safety standards and procedures for modern onshore drilling processes. As a result, the accident rate has increased substantially and the number of workers who are dying continues to increase.

According to the investigation, there were 60 percent more accidents in onshore oil and gas workplaces in 2012 than in 2011. The newspaper reported that 2012 saw 79 people losing limbs, 92 workers suffering burns, 82 people crushed and 675 people suffering broken bones in onshore occupations. By comparison, offshore operations have become far safer the last few years, partly because federal regulations were enacted in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers.

Employers are responsible for protecting their employees. Although many workplace accidents are minor, major accidents can lead to serious injuries and deaths. Any employee who thinks an employer is at fault for an accident injury should be sure to get the best information on the options to seek compensation that can cover medical bills and lost wages.

Source: Minneapolis StarTribune, “Houston Chronicle examination of Texas oil field safety finds failures, deaths, injury,” Feb. 23, 2014

Workplace injuries major health concern among employees

In Kansas City, if a person suffers a workplace injury, the state workers’ compensation system takes care of all of the expenses. The problem is that workplace injuries are not uncommon. Sometimes, they can lead to serious consequences and sometimes the injuries can even lead to brain injury and death. It can also be difficult to find the responsible party in the event of such a tragedy.

According to recent statistics, employers from the U.S. pay $1 billion each week for the cost of direct workers compensation. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the problem of repetitive motion injury is growing and this results in about 23 days of work absence for each incident.

The most common form of injury experienced by janitors and custodial workers is a shoulder injury. To reduce work-related injuries, companies should provide physical therapy and occupational health programs to employees. It is very important to prevent injuries by educating employees and modifying their workplace environment.

Workers compensation provides benefits for those who have suffered work-related injuries. It covers medical and wage benefits. An employee can seek benefits for various injuries caused by toxic materials, work-related accidents, and repetitive stress injuries.

If employees are injured in a workplace in Kansas, or any other state because of negligence, they may request the advice from an experienced attorney and seek compensation for their injury in the form of medical expenses and lost wages. A professional attorney may help an injured worker gain better insight into any work-related injury and offer advice on what the next steps for the injured employee should be.

Source: News Medical, “BU faculty develops physical therapy intervention to minimize workplace injury, reduce costs,” Feb. 25, 2014

Two construction workers electrocuted, killed on the job

Any Kansas resident who has worked construction is likely familiar with the extensive safety training that is required as most construction sites. This safety training is necessary because construction sites are highly hazardous environments and the risk of an accident is almost always sky-high. Yet even with all of this safety training, and the many precautions that workers are often legally required to take, accidents can still occur and the results can be catastrophic. Falling debris, malfunctioning machinery and unstable scaffolding put workers at constant risk of being injured – or worse, killed – in a work-related accident.

According to police reports, two men were recently killed in a construction accident. One of the men, age 55, was the owner of a construction company and the other, age 22, was an employee. Both were on company property when the accident took place.

The accident occurred when a dump truck made contact with live wires, according to reports. After raising its big rig to clean out snow that had gathered, the truck became electrified and the driver, after walking outside of the truck, touched the big rig and received a lethal electric shock. The owner of the construction company came rushing to help the man and he too touched the truck and was electrocuted. The two men suffered electric burns and shock and medics were unable to save them.

Considering how dangerous construction sites can be, it can be helpful for workers and their families to be familiar with their rights and the options available to them should an accident occur. One such option is workers’ compensation, which in some cases offers exclusive remedy to victims and their families after an accident occurs. Learning about workers’ compensation can help victims and their families decide whether or not it is the best option to pursue, or if other legal action is more appropriate.

Source: NBC Connecticut, “2 Electrocuted, Killed in South Windsor Construction Accident,” Feb. 19, 2014

Man sustains multiple injuries in agriculture workplace accident

As many Kansas residents can likely attest to, work is often built around routine. Most people go to their jobs and have a routine that allows them to get into a workflow. Workplace accidents are abrupt, unexpected interruptions to a person’s routine that can change a worker’s life in an instant. Especially in jobs that require the use of tools and machinery, there is always the chance that a mishap could happen at any moment and devastate employees and their families.

A recent workplace accident had devastating results for a man and his wife and kids. It is likely that neither he nor his wife could have foreseen the tragedy that befell him while he was on the job. He was severely injured after an accident occurred at his place of employment. He was grinding corn, as was his duty at work, when his clothing suddenly got tangled in a power takeoff shaft of the grinder. As a result, the worker’s body was violently thrashed about and his midsection and lower body were crushed in the grinder.

Among his injuries were several broken bones including both of his femurs, his right foot, left ankle, right forearm and a number of ribs. He suffered severe bruising to his spleen, diaphragm and lungs. Because of his injuries, it is expected that he will be hospitalized for up to two months. The resulting medical expenses have been difficult for the family to deal with. He may have to wait up to a year to fully recover.

Medical expenses and time away from work can devastate a family financially. This is why when someone is hurt on the job; there is often the option of pursuing workers’ compensation to help the family recover some of these costs. Workers’ compensation offers exclusive remedy in some cases and can help victims in their recoveries. It is helpful for employees to know their rights and the options available to them.

Source: Rapid City Journal, “Newell man recovering from horrific work accident,” Colleen Brunner, Feb. 15, 2014

Industrial accident causes worker fatal injuries

Many Kansas residents likely received some form of safety training when they start working. Most jobs require employees to partake in such training. Yet even with safety training and an understanding of the dangers in a work environment, no one expects an accident to occur. When a worker is injured or killed in an accident, victims and their families may be left wondering what options are available to them.

In what must have been and unexpected and tragic occurrence, a worker was killed in an industrial accident recently. He was a contract worker doing a job at a castings plant that was under construction. While he was installing heating and air conditioning in the castings plant, a pipe exploded and fatally injured the man. An investigation into the castings plant revealed that the company had been cited for two prior violations, both of which were considered severe. Authorities are continuing to investigate the accident.

Accidents of this nature — that is, industrial accidents — are usually thoroughly investigated. Investigators hope to uncover who was at fault in the accident. Workers are protected by certain rights and can use investigation results to help determine what legal action may be appropriate. In many cases, a workers’ compensation may be worth pursuing in order to protect an injury victim and a family from the medical expenses, lost wages and other financial shocks that can come in the wake of an accident.

Each situation is unique and requires a thorough analysis that puts the evidence together to help determine what a victim may be entitled to. With diligence and a thorough understanding of the legalities involved, victims can often pursue full and fair compensation.

Source: WSOCTV, “Officials: Man dies after pipe explodes at plant,” Jan. 31, 2014

Plant collapse results in two dead, more injured

Kansas residents likely understand the hazardous conditions of certain work environments. Falling debris and building collapses are everyday risks for some employees. Still, most workplace accidents are completely unexpected, even if the danger is known and every safety precaution is duly taken. Most employers are required to secure their workplaces to meet certain OSHA regulations; similarly, most employees are expected to take certain safety precautions to protect against any potential accidents. Accidents can still happen, though, and when a worker is injured or families members are lost in a work-related accident, they may be wonder what options for recovery are available.

An accident recently occurred at a nutrition plant located just north of Kansas in Nebraska. Tragically, two workers were killed and 10 injured as the result of the nutrition plant’s collapse. Evidence points to an explosion being the likely cause of the collapse. Panels appear to have been blown off of the building. This is based on mere photographic evidence, however, and experts anticipate that the investigation will take up to six months.

The plant had previously undergone investigation by OSHA and was cited for six violations. These violations were unrelated to the building’s structure, however. An assessor that inspected the building considered it to be of average quality and in good condition. Based on these findings and the photographic evidence, experts have come to the conclusion that a dust explosion is a possible explanation for the collapse. Contrary to the experts’ opinions, some of the surviving victims in the collapse did not believe an explosion caused the collapse, as they did not hear or see any evidence of a blast.

Even if a company is not found guilty of violating any safety requirements — and are thus not liable for the damages — workers and the families of victims can still pursue workers’ compensation for the financial difficulties they have suffered. Oftentimes, medical expenses and lost wages serve to further inflict suffering on victims and their families, making it prudent to seek out legal help in planning the best course of action to compensation and fair recovery.

Source: Omaha.com, “Evidence suggests blast caused International Nutrition accident,” Barbara Soderlin and Henry J. Cordes, Jan. 27, 2014

19-year-old suffers fatal injuries in construction accident

Any Kansas resident who has worked on a construction site knows how hazardous these work environments can be. Falling objects, electrocution and heavy machinery accidents are an everyday risk. Injuries are not uncommon and, sadly, fatalities are possible. OSHA regulations set forth certain safety requirements that are put in place to protect employees. Unfortunately, these regulations cannot always prevent the tragic from occurring.

A high school student was tragically killed in a recent construction site accident. The young man, 19 years old, had been featured in the news before as an 11-year-old with dreams of becoming a NASCAR driver. These dreams inspired him to race go karts competitively and the young man had won a grand national championship for his driving skills. Tragically, the young man died while working at a highway construction site. OSHA did not release exact details regarding the nature of the accident because of an ongoing investigation.

OSHA, in compliance with the philosophy that workers have a right to a safe workplace, works to reduce hazards in the workplace by implementing certain health and safety programs, along with giving employees certain rights and responsibilities. When these rights are violated, the results are often tragic. Families of loved ones who have been injured or killed in work accidents may be left wondering what options they have for recourse.

With vigorous representation, families of loved ones may be able to pursue compensation through a number of means. There are different forms of recovery that may be appropriate based on the nature of the accident. Sometimes, a product liability claim is suitable, while other times pursuing workers’ compensation is the better option. It is important for victims and families of victims to know all of the options that are available to them.

Source: WCTV, “Fatal Construction Accident In Taylor County,” Andy Alcock, Jan. 20, 2014