Fatal Work Injuries

September 12, 2015

One Worker Killed, Another Injured During Construction of Vikings Stadium

Whenever a new stadium is built, there is a lot of excitement and, sometimes, conflicting emotions from fans. Usually by the time a stadium is being replaced, it is old and falling apart, or it is located in an area that many fans consider unsafe or difficult to get to, and that can harm attendance.

When a new stadium is finally complete after decades of talk and years of construction, fans will go to the new stadium, even if they will always miss the old stadium. However, with all the good memories people who are fans may have, some construction workers and their families may have tragic memories associated with the construction of the new stadium. Continue reading

September 9, 2015

Worker Killed on Job in Construction Accident in Taunton

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Working on a construction site is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Construction workers are constantly working around heavy machinery. There are often heavy loads suspended from cranes well over the heads of construction workers, and these workers are frequently required to climb to dangerously high levels and use power tools, which can also be extremely dangerous, should there be an on-the-job accident.

According to a recent news article from WPRI, a construction accident in Taunton, Massachusetts resulted in the death of a worker. This is the second fatal accident involving a construction site in that city in the past month. In the first fatal construction accident, a worker was killed when a lift fell over onto him during construction of a new school. Continue reading

August 30, 2015

Worker in Taunton Killed in Construction Lift Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent article from WCVB Boston, a worker was killed when a construction lift tipped over. Federal safety officials say the fatal on-the-job accident occurred behind St. Mary’s School in Taunton. The construction lift was being operated on a slope at the rear boundary of the property, adjacent to the hospital.

Federal and local safety inspectors are not exactly sure what happened in the accident in which this worker was killed. They do know, however, that what they are describing as a large aerial lift was on the slope when it toppled over, causing the death of a worker. There was a fence around the lift, which was partially crushed by the fallen lift, and the scene was somewhat chaotic. There were police, workers in hard hats, and safety experts everywhere. Continue reading

August 27, 2015

Electric Car Worker Killed on Job

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Despite the recent drop in gas prices, gas is still much higher than it was a decade ago, and people are doing what they can to reduce the amount of money they spend on their daily commute. For some, that means buying smaller cars or trucks. For others, purchasing a hybrid, such as a Prius, is a good way to save on gas. However, the way to save the most on gas is to purchase a fully electric car. Toyota makes a Prius model with this option, as do Nissan and Chevrolet with their respective Leaf and Volt models. However, if you are looking for something sportier than one of these small economy cars, and are willing to spend around $100,000, you could get one of the new Tesla fully electric sports cars now available.

While driving an electric car has obvious advantages, you need to fully charge the car at your home before getting behind the wheel, because, if you run out of battery, you will have to plug the car in and wait hours before it is recharged. This limitation on driving distances is one of the major reasons more people have not adopted fully electric cars, and the lack of infrastructure around the country is not helping. Even in cities like Boston, where it would be perfect, there are not many places to stop and recharge. Continue reading

August 19, 2015

Construction Workers Killed in Bee Attack

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There is no question that construction workers toil in one of the most dangerous industries in the nation. Each year, many construction workers are injured, and some are killed, in accidents involving falling off roofs and other high structures, heavy machinery accidents, and a variety of other serious accidents involving the use of power tools. We also tend to see a lot of vehicle accidents on construction sites, due to the use of over-sized vehicles, which often have poor visibility.

However, from time to time, we see more unusual types of accidents involving construction workers, and some of these accidents can also prove fatal. According to a recent news article from the Press Enterprise, a construction worker was killed on the job in a bee attack. Continue reading

August 16, 2015

Social Worker Shot for Reasons Related to Her Job

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Work-related injuries and illnesses are usually the result of an accident, such as a box or large piece of machinery falling on a worker or accidental occupational exposure to dangerous chemicals. However, a work-related injury or even death can also be the result of intentional violent conduct committed by a co-worker, company vendor, or even a third party assailant.

According to a recent news article from USA Today, a mother in a child custody dispute killed the social worker assigned to her case and is suspected of killing three members of her own family. Authorities say the 40-year-old mother was upset because she had lost custody of her nine-year-old daughter and went to the social worker’s office with a .270 caliber rifle. As the social worker was leaving her office by the rear door, suspect allegedly fired at social worker, hitting her in the upper torso and upper extremities and killing her. Police believe that at least one of the gunshots was fired at close range. Continue reading

August 3, 2015

Car Wash Worker in Massachusetts Killed on Job

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a news report from the Sun Chronicle, an employee at a Massachusetts car wash was recently killed on the job. Authorities say the employee was working at the Malden, Massachusetts car wash when he was struck by a car owned by a customer.

A representative from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office released a statement saying the car hit the 28-year-old employee from Everett around nine on a Sunday morning. The car was exiting the wash bay while employee was busy working on another customer’s car, and he did not see the car that was about to hit him. Continue reading

July 26, 2015

Update: Ironworker Injured at Boston Logan Airport Died From Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

On June 10, 2015, an ironworker was helping to build a new parking structure at Boston Logan International Airport when he was involved in a serious on-the-job accident. Authorities say victim was on the third level of the parking garage under construction and was helping to secure a massive concrete platform to the structure.

While he was attempting to secure the concrete platform, it broke free from the crane that was suspending it, and the platform and the workers fell approximately 40 feet to the ground. In addition to serious impact from his fall, the worker was left trapped between the platform and an exterior wall of the garage. Continue reading

June 29, 2015

Worker Killed in Plymouth, Massachusetts Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article form NECN, a worker in Plymouth was killed when an avalanche of sand trapped and crushed him and the bulldozer he was driving. He was working for a sand and gravel company, and he and other workers were operating bulldozers and other heavy machinery to remove sand from a large pile that measured over 150 feet high.

More than two dozen emergency workers from across Plymouth County arrived to help get the trapped workers out from under the sand. They used heavy equipment and teams of workers to try and unearth the bulldozer, but more sand and large rocks would fall on top of what they had just removed, making it virtually impossible to make any progress in a short of amount of time. As the day wore on, and the temperature became hotter, the sand would dry out, making it even more difficult to move.

Authorities say the were finally able to reach far enough into the large bulldozer to grab the employees hand, but quickly realized the 65-year-old man was nonresponsive, as he had been killed by the weight of the sand or possibly from asphyxiation. Continue reading

March 31, 2015

Wal-Mart to Finally Stop Fighting Fine for 2008 Trampling Death of Employee

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As you may remember, in 2008, a worker at Long Island Wal-Mart store was trampled by customers running into the store for a sale known as the “Black Friday Blitz.”

Following worker’s death from on-the-job injuries, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted an investigation into whether Wal-Mart was responsible for workers’ death, and if so, if the company should be required to pay a fine. Wal-Mart was also facing workers’ compensation claims and possible criminal charges in connection with this tragic work-related death.

With respect to criminal charges and workers’ compensation claims, Wal-Mart agreed to $400,000 in victim’s compensation and to make donations in the amount of $1.5 million to non-profit social services organizations. However, this did not stop the OSHA investigation from continuing.
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