Articles Posted in Workers’ Compensation

Police officers fasten their badge on before each shift knowing that it could be the last time they report for duty. They are well aware that they may face serious injury or death in the line of duty. Most police officers, however, likely expect that such an event will occur at the hands of a criminal or during a rescue attempt. They likely don’t expect that an injury will come as a result of a preventable traffic accident. One officer in Maryland is likely eligible for workers’ compensation after he was seriously injured in such an accident.

Reports indicate that the police officer, who was on-duty at the time, was traveling in an unmarked police car during the late morning of a November day. Witnesses state that the officer was traveling through an intersection on a green light. Allegedly, the driver of a truck ran a red light and struck the officer’s police car.

The officer was transported to the hospital where he is currently listed in serious condition. The driver of the truck was not injured. Reportedly, the accident reportedly major traffic delays in the area. There is no information regarding charges against the driver of the truck; however, the investigation is likely still ongoing.

Anyone who has driven on a state highway or interstate has likely noticed a state worker performing a job-related task near the road. In most circumstances, they complete their task without incident. However, in the event of an accident, the state of Maryland likely provides workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. The family members of one employee may now qualify for such compensation after the death of their loved one in a tragic accident.

In the morning in mid-November, a 50-year-old highway worker was attempting to repair a road sign. According to reports, the 61-year-old driver of a sedan unexpectedly swerved off the road, striking the man and his state truck. He died at the scene.

The man’s 38-year-old co-worker was injured while trying to avoid the sedan. Both he and the sedan driver were transported to an area hospital for treatment. The accident remains under investigation. A spokesperson for the State Highway Administration has publicly stated that this accident is a reminder of the hazards their employees face and that drivers should display extra care and vigilance when such workers are in the area.

It is no secret that police officers have a dangerous job. Every day they report for duty, they realize it could very well be their last. There are obvious job hazards such as dangerous criminals, but there are others of which some people may not be as aware. Police officers are frequently in danger of being struck by a fast-moving vehicle when they pull over a different vehicle or are working the scene of an accident. Fortunately in the case of workplace injuries in Maryland, injured employees are often entitled to workers’ compensation.

One state trooper will likely be looking into workers’ compensation after he was injured while on the job. According to reports, the trooper had been working the scene of an accident. As he was waiting by the side of the road with his emergency equipment engaged, his police car was struck by a vehicle not connected to the original accident.

The trooper was transported to an area hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown. The 63-year-old man who allegedly struck him has been issued several citations.

There is some degree of risk in everything that people do. Even the most seemingly innocuous of activities could have underlying risks, especially when those activities deal with an occupation. Because of this there are organizations in place to attempt to protect employees from work hazards and hold employers accountable when preventable accidents happen due to work conditions. To further assist injured workers or the family members of deceased workers, most states require employers to provide employees with workers’ compensation coverage. The family of a Maryland man will likely need this coverage after an accident at work took his life.

The 43-year-old man was working as a delivery man in late September. He was attempting to load a heavy piece of computer equipment onto a truck’s lift when the accident occurred. As he attempted to load it, something went wrong.

Police reports indicate that the man slipped and fell underneath the lift. The equipment then fell on top of him, crushing him. He died at the scene. The incident will likely be investigated for the state’s division of the Occupation Safety and Health Administration.

Most counselors will state that there are specific stages of grief. However, the overwhelming shock and disbelief upon first learning of a loved one’s death, especially an unexpected death, is often debilitating. In addition to managing their grief, loved ones also have to wonder about their financial future, especially if the family member was the primary wage earner for the family. If the death occurs as a result of a workplace injury, however, the family is likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The family of a Maryland likely qualifies for such compensation after a workplace accident resulted in the death of a man.

In late September, a 62-year-old employee of Austin & Bednash Construction Inc. was working at a construction site for a new development. According to reports, the employee was digging a trench for a sewer line with an excavator. He stopped digging in order to inspect the work he had completed. As he did so, the ground collapsed, and he fell into a 6-foot hole.

Initially, the man was standing in approximately three feet of dirt according to the reports of a witness. However, the witness left the scene to call 911, and when he returned, the man was completely covered in dirt. Ground conditions at the time complicated the hazardous situation. Although rescue crews arrived within minutes, the man was declared dead when workers were able to reach the upper portion of his body.

When most people hear of a military member’s death, they assume it was caused by enemies while in combat. However, there are many occupational hazards for military men and women that do not relate to combat. A recent investigation by OSHA at an Army-owned weapons-testing pond in Maryland where three people were killed has found several safety violations. The families of these three men are likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits after their tragic deaths.

The first incident occurred in January 2013. An OSHA investigation was initiated after a civilian diver was killed in the training pond during routine maintenance. The investigation alleges several serious violations, meaning employers knew that the lack of certain procedures could lead to death or injury, as well as several other violations.

The second incident occurred approximately a month after the first. Two navy divers were killed in a separate incident. The OSHA findings relate only to the first incident. Criminal charges may be pending as a result of the death of the two sailors.

A report recently published by the union federation AFL-CIO offers statistics related to workplace injuries and fatalities in Maryland. Specifically, the report, titled “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect,” took a look at the number of work-related injuries and deaths in the U.S. in 2011, and Maryland came in at number nine on the list of states with the fewest work-related deaths.

Maryland’s workplace fatality rate that year was 2.6 deaths per 100,000 employees. That means 71 Maryland workers died that year because of work-related injuries or illness.

In fact, the statistics reflect that not much has changed in the last few years in terms of improving workplace safety. If you look at all industries in 2011, you’ll find that 3.8 million people were injured or made ill on the job, and 4,693 people died because of job-related injuries. The numbers for 2010 actually indicate a slight increase of workplace fatalities in 2011.