Monthly Archives: August 2013

What to do when involved in an on-the-job injury

Kansas residents are no stranger to hard work. However, there are some work environments, such as industrial plants that may place workers at a higher risk for on-the-job injuries than others.

Recently, a pipeline worker was injured in an industrial accident. The man had to be flown be a medical helicopter to a nearby hospital. There is no word yet on the cause of the injury or the status of the injured worker.

While the extent of the worker’s injuries are not yet known, one thing for certain is that he will have medical bills and expenses. Fortunately, employers in every state, including Kansas must carry some type of worker’s compensation insurance. Worker’s compensation is a system in which employers compensate their injured workers by providing benefits, such as medical expenses, lost wages, costs of training, as well as benefits to survivors of a deceased employee who was killed on the job.

Worker’s compensation benefits can vary state to state and profession to profession. However, most workers that are injured on the job can receive compensation for injuries associated with physical accidents, as in the above mentioned case. Workers can also receive benefits for injuries associated with mental and emotional health due to job-related stress. Workers can also receive benefits for pre-existing conditions that were made worse due to their job-related duties. There are certain injuries that may not be covered under worker’s compensation, including injuries sustained while performing a personal errand (even if during work hours) and injuries sustained while traveling to and from work.

Kansas residents who have been injured on the job need to make sure their rights are protected. Employers may try to find ways to get around paying worker’s compensation benefits. Experienced legal professionals specializing in worker’s comp benefits are available to assess one’s case and make sure they receive all the compensation to which they are entitled.

Source: 12 News Cincinnati, “Pipeline Worker Injured In Industrial Accident“, August 20, 2013

Worker dies in crane accident at construction site

Kansas residents know that there is always the chance of suffering an injury when on the job. However, when one works in the construction industry, the nature of the work puts the employee at a greater risk for injuries and even death than other professions.

Recently, a construction worker lost his life during a tragic construction accident. Two construction workers were working on a power line project when the crane accident occurred. In order to complete the project, the two men had to be lowered by a crane into a 50-foot hole. As the crane was lowering them, a strap broke, causing the men to fall 20 to 30 feet.

Sadly, one of the workers lost his life due to head injuries sustained from the impact of the fall. The other construction worker suffered only minor injuries. The local sheriff’s department, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is investigating the accident.

If an individual loses his life or suffers injuries while on the job, the injured employee or the loved ones of the decedent may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation insurance is mandated by the government at the state level for certain groups of employers in every state. The benefits may include payment for medical treatment and compensation for employees who suffer permanent injury as a result of their workplace accidents. In addition, an injured employee may be able to receive payment for lost wages and the cost of any future training that he or she may require, if the injury necessitates a move to a different position within the company.

Kansas residents who have been injured on the job should make sure their rights are protected. Suffering an injury can be a very traumatic experience, so it is key that the responsible parties are brought to justice and that the victim receives all the compensation to which he or she is entitled.

Source: News 9 Oklahoma, “Oklahoma Man Killed In Minnesota Construction Accident“,

OHSA cites company for multiple safety violations

Residents in Johnson City, Kansas, are no stranger to hard work. Whether one has a job with multiple occupational hazards, or one works behind a desk, employees are entitled to a safe work environment.

Recently, a metal finishing company has gotten itself into hot water with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OHSA inspected the work place after workers had complained that they were not evacuated when there was a gas leak on the premises. OHSA found 14 safety violations being committed by the company, including failure to train its employees on proper use of industrial equipment, inadequate labeling of hazardous material and failure to perform medical evaluations on its employees for proper respirator use.

The company faces penalties over $46,000. The company can choose to contest the violations found by the OHSA inspectors, or if it does not contest the findings, the company must fix the violations in the time frame given by OHSA and pay the penalties assessed.

Fortunately, no employee was harmed as a result of the multiple violations found in their work place. Not all individuals are so lucky. When an employee is hurt on the job, they are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Worker’s compensation benefits are mandated by every state. They require employers to make payments to employees who suffer injuries connected to their work.

Employers often carry worker’s compensation insurance to provide for injured employees. This insurance covers the employee’s medical expenses, lost wages, additional compensation for injuries that will not heal, as well as compensation to the loved ones of employees who are killed while on the job. Not all injuries are covered under workers’ compensation insurance. It is crucial that any individual who has been injured in the work place ensure that their rights are protected and seek the appropriate assistance in pursuit of justice.

Source: OSHA.gov, “Badger Metal Finishing cited by US Labor Department’s OSHA for 14 violations, including failing to evacuate workers during a natural gas leak,” August 12, 2013

Kansas rail yard accident leaves worker, family unsure of future

Many seriously injured workers in Kansas might be able to relate with the struggle of a man from a small town near Wichita. His sister described him as an active, “innovation type of guy.” In other words, he isn’t accustomed to sitting still. He owned a bakery for a decade and even operated a theater for a stint.

Then he started working for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, and one night on the rail yard changed everything.

In early July, shortly after 2 a.m., the man fell beneath a train car as he helped other workers get a train ready for departure. The car’s wheels pinned the upper part of his legs against the tracks. For 45 minutes, he remained there in extreme pain and conscious, until workers were finally able to lift the car and get him out.

The work accident has kept him in the hospital ever since, and he and his family aren’t sure of what the future holds.

The community in Wellington, where the man has been an active church member and president of the chamber of commerce, has rallied around him. A special fund was set up at a local bank, and community members organized a bake sale and benefit dinner.

These are all commendable efforts in an injured man’s time of need. His rehabilitation may be long and difficult, and his family has likely considered their options for obtaining workers’ compensation to cover the cost of future medical treatment.

Calculating such costs can be a daunting task, and seriously injured employees would be wise to take the proper legal steps to ensure that the compensation is sufficient to the demands of the injury.

Source: The Wichita Eagle, “Town of Wellington to raise money for railroad worker hurt in accident,” Raymond Howze, Aug. 2, 2013