Articles Posted in Boston Work Accidents

In a recent East Boston work accident, a man was killed by a 12,000-pound beam. According to the Boston Globe, the beat fell onto the man at Boston Bridge & Steel Inc., located on Marginal Street just after 6:00 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A large piece in an arch shape shifted on the worker, trapping him underneath,” said Steve MacDonald, a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers in Massachusetts note officials have concluded there was no foul play involved in this accident, but that doesn’t mean there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it. We also understand that this is the second accident involve an industrial worker death in five days in the city of Boston. Just days before, another was killed at a Downtown Crossing work site. This worker was serious injured by a scissor lift at roughly 2:00 p.m. and later died of the injuries.
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Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced a request for information seeking public comment on potential revisions to its Process Safety Management standard and related standards. The government agency is also looking for input regarding other policy options to prevent major chemical incidents.

The RFI comes as a response to executive order 13650. This order looks to improve chemical facility security and safety. It was issued in the wake of the April 2013 West, Texas, tragedy that killed close to 20 workers in an ammonium nitrate explosion.

Our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers understand that there are as many as 100,000 deaths and 390,000 injuries each every year as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace. If there are toxic chemicals, wherever they may be, officials with OSHA regulate how they should be handled and in what quantities they are allowed. Unfortunately, employers aren’t always on the same page. The five main components of the OSHA’s Hazard Communication (Hazcom) standard are hazard evaluation, a written hazard communication program, material safety data sheets (MSDS), labeling and other hazard warnings, and employee information and training.
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Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released their list of the most frequently cited violations across the nation. According to Safety and Health Magazine, citations regarding fall protection were the most common throughout the year. More than 8,200 of these citations were issued, which serves as about 1,000 more than last year.

In second, hazardous communication. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). This occupational safety and health standard is intended to address comprehensively the issue of classifying the potential hazards of chemicals, and communicating information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees, and to preempt any legislative or regulatory enactments of a state, or political subdivision of a state, pertaining to this subject. There were more than 6,100 citations issued for violating this standard in workplaces across the U.S.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers in Massachusetts understand there are very strict guidelines in place. Unfortunately, companies and employers don’t always follow these guidelines and standards and, in turn, risk the safety and health of their employees. Employees are required to provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and to comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act, according to the United States Department of Labor (DOL).
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Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor recently announced four new rules that aim to help business owners. The new rules aim to reduce regulatory burden on employers by updating or rescinding unnecessary rules, regulations and requirements.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated and reworked the federal standard for employees using mechanical power presses. These rules were finalized and published in the wake of the Obama Administration’s efforts to modernize the regulatory system and reduce unfair regulatory burdens.

Our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers understand that both employers and workers need to focus on what is most likely to keep them safe. Outdated and unnecessary regulation detracts from the time, energy and focus where it is needed most.

Visit regulation.gov today and submit your comments on proposed regulations and related documents published by the federal government.
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Safety News Alert has published some advice for employers on what they can do about employees who are on prescription drugs that cause drowsiness or that can interfere with an employee’s ability to do his job.

Our work injury attorneys in Massachusetts know that the issue of prescription drug use– and especially prescription pain killer use– is a big one. In fact, an NBC News report showed an 18 percent jump in the number of workers who tested positive for opiates in 2009, as compared to prior years. While employers may be concerned about their potential liability if a worker on a prescription drug causes injury, those employees who depend upon prescriptions need to know their rights and how the use of a prescription drug can affect a work injury claim.
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Crystalline silica kills hundreds of workers and sickens thousands more in the U.S. each and every year. And that’s why officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have proposed a rule to help curb this exposure. They’re looking to curb kidney disease, pulmonary disease, chronic silicosis and lung cancer. They want to do this by lowering employees’ exposure to crystalline silica.

“Exposure to silica can be deadly, and limiting that exposure is essential,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Our Boston worker’s compensation lawyers understand that a rule like this could wind up saving about 700 lives and prevent more than 1,500 new cases of silicosis each and every year. Don’t think you’re at risk? Consider this: Exposure to airborne silica dust happens in jobs that involve crushing, drilling, sawing and the cutting of block, brick, concrete and other stone products as well as in operations in which sand products are used — like in sand blasting, foundries and glass manufacturing.
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration was recently slapped with 14 notices of unhealthful or unsafe working conditions after an inspection ot Logan International Airport in Boston. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the inspection occurred in February as a part of the Administration’s Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program.

“Employees who work daily to protect the traveling public also deserve protection against on-the-job hazards, each and every day,” said Brenda Gordon with OSHA.

Our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers understand that airports are very busy places, and sadly accidents and incidents occur on a daily basis. There are various reasons for this, including technical breakdown or system failure, human error and even organizational failures that commonly result because of inadequate training, supervisions or safety procedures.
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Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently announced that the City of Boston‘s massive road work plan for this year has kicked off with a successful start during the first few months of construction season. So far, there have been close to 25 miles of road repaved. That’s in comparison to the less than 10 miles completed during this same time last year. In addition to the road improvements, Public Works officials have also been able to repair more than 400 pedestrian ramps.

Throughout the rest of the summer, city officials are looking to repave close to 50 miles of Boston roadway and fix close to 1,500 pedestrian ramps. This is a whole lot more than last year.

“A well-maintained city leads to happy, healthy residents, and I am proud the City of Boston has created a legacy of continuous service to our constituents,” said Mayor Menino.

Our Boston workers’ compensation lawyers understand that these kinds of construction projects can serve up some serious headaches for both drivers and workers. Roadway work zones are hazardous both for motorists who drive through the complex array of signs, barrels, and lane changes and for workers who build, repair, and maintain our Nation’s streets, bridges, and highways. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation accidents accounted for more than 75 percent of the fatal workplace incidents in 2011. In 70 percent of these transportation accidents, a pedestrian worker was hit by a passing vehicle.

According to The National Word Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, there were close to 5 fatal motor-vehicle accidents that happened in the state of Massachusetts in 2010.

A work zone is typically marked by signs, channelizing devices, barriers, pavement markings, and/or work vehicles. Work zones can appear anywhere, from major freeways to two-lane country roads. Regardless of the setting, when construction or repair result in the creation of a work zone, special advance markings are necessary to warn motorists of special conditions. In these areas, it is important to be alert and prepared to slow down or stop in a work zone.

When traveling through a work zone, follow these safety tips to help protect our workers:

-Put away all the in-car distractions.

-Avoid tailgating.

-Expect the unexpected.

-Be ready for vehicles and workers.

-Obey the posted speed limit. Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes. Remember, traffic fines double in work zones.

-Merge into the proper lane as soon as possible.

-Drive with your headlights on.

-Always follow the instructions of the flaggers.

-Do not drive across the median. This creates a very dangerous situation for you, construction workers and other motorists — not to mention the steep fine.

-Resume normal speed until after you emerge completely out of the work zone area.

-Pay attention to the signs. The warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone.
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As recent tornadoes in Oklahoma have shown, tornadoes can come in an instant and can create massive damage and destruction. In fact, CBS News reports that a tornado that hit El Reno, OK earlier this summer had winds that reached 295 miles per hour. The high winds and fierce storms can be deadly, with 24 people dying in a Tornado in Moore, OK recently and another 18 people losing their lives in the El Reno tornado.

Our Boston workplace injury lawyers know that work sites should have a tornado plan in place in case a tornado comes through while employees are at work. OSHA has recently touched upon this issue, providing a publication on tornado preparedness and responses in the workplace.

OSHA Advises Taking Precautions

Because tornadoes can move so quickly and there may be limited warning before you find yourself in a tornado zone, there are a few key precautions that should be taken by employers and employees in order to prevent injury or even death when a storm blows in.

For example, OSHA advises that:

• Businesses should have an emergency plan with details on where employees will go to shelter and how employees will be accounted for.
• Businesses should create a suitable plan for addressing any hazardous materials that may be on site or that may have been onsite prior to the tornado.
• Employers should know the warning system in the community so that they can react quickly and help workers get to safety. If a business has a “safe room,” or an underground shelter, workers can go there to wait out the storm.
• Workplaces should consider having preparedness kits at worksites.
• Periodic tornado drills may be a smart option for employers so that everyone knows what to do in the event that a tornado comes.
• Employers can prepare for tornado season by removing damaged tree limbs that could blow down on buildings during a tornado or other severe storm.
• Fallen power lines and broken gas lines may occur after a tornado and employees should be warned about potential electrocution or explosion risks.

By taking these steps and by going the extra mile to become prepared for a tornado that might strike while at work, employers can make an important difference in potentially saving lives or preventing serious injury.

As OSHA points out, employers are responsible for both the safety and the health of their employees. While employers cannot stop tornadoes from happening, they can ensure that they do everything possible to protect workers and keep them safe.

If a worker is injured on the job, he may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits from employers. A worker could potentially be entitled to these benefits even if the on-the-job injury was caused by a tornado or other natural disaster. Workers should consult with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to learn whether their injuries are covered.
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