Articles Posted in Workplace Accidents

Injuries occurring while on the job can have a ripple effect to not only the worker and the company, but the worker’s family as well. When the employee is injured, the medical and painful aspect of the incident can leave one unable to work for days, weeks or even longer. The financial implications of workplace accidents can really put families in a monetary rough spot. The loss of income from not being able to work can create a negative bank balance and stress within a family unit. When Maryland workers are hurt or fatally injured while on the job, workers’ compensation benefits are typically available.

Authorities received a call around 2:20 p.m. to assist with helping rescue two men who had become trapped in a grain elevator in another state. Unsure of why the men were in the grain elevator and what exactly happened, all that was reported was that the men were buried under 20 to 25 feet of grain. Upon arrival of rescue workers, the men had been trapped for nearly two hours.

Vacuum trucks had been called in to assist with the removal of grain as rescue workers donned harnesses and entered the grain elevator attempting to rescue the men. At 4:35 p.m., authorities changed the rescue to a recovery effort. Around 5:20 p.m. the bodies of the two workers, a 32-year-old male and a 28-year-old male, were recovered.

Securing a job with a contractor providing steady work can be a blessing for many. This type of employment usually provides stability and often includes a lucrative benefits package. For families trying to support themselves during rough financial times, construction jobs offer a means to put food on the table, shoes on the children’s feet and keep the lights on. With the stability of a construction career also comes the risk of workplace accidents due to heavy equipment, human error or acts of nature. When an injuries occurs, workers’ compensation helps to cover Maryland victims and their families.

A call came in to authorities around 10:30 a.m., requesting assistance with a collapsed trench at a worksite in another state. A four-man crew was in a trench, and one worker was buried and unresponsive. Upon arrival on the scene, rescue workers discovered that 16 to 20 tons of dirt had shifted and collapsed into the 10-foot-deep trench where the man was putting in an underground line. The rescue team was shown where the man was and marked the location to begin rescue efforts.

Emergency crews used heavy equipment and then began to dig by hand until it was deemed the worker could no longer be alive. The construction worker’s body was recovered around 3:45 p.m. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators were on scene and continue to look into the tragic accident.

Working in the construction industry in Maryland can be a dangerous occupation. Workers can be hurt, sent home and are hopefully able to return to their duties after medical treatment and rest. Some accidents and injuries are fatal, which can leave a family without their loved one and the income provided by that family member. When workplace accidents happen, the Maryland workers’ compensation program is in place to help cover the costs associated with medical bills and the inability to work while one is recovering.

A construction worker in another state lost his life while surveying damage from several accidents which occurred earlier that same morning. Four big rigs slid off the road and one of them rolled over, in the exact same spot on the highway. The crew investigating the damage said the road was not frozen, simply wet and slick, and motorists need to exercise caution and slow down.

The 62-year-old male was in the median examining the roadway to assess damage. A tractor-trailer traveling east hit the slick spot and jackknifed. The truck then slid into the median, striking the man.

Maryland workers trust that the company they work for has done everything they possibly can to ensure a safe work environment. When the employer does not comply with safety guidelines and laws, the consequences can be devastating. Workplace accidents that result from less then adequate or poorly made equipment can lead to serious injuries and even death for some employees. A FedEx airport hub in another state is under scrutiny after three workers have been killed on the job in less than three years.

When the holiday season approaches, shipping and deliveries pick up. With so much experience in this particular industry, one might think that FedEx has safety and efficiency down perfectly. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the shipping giant after a female employee was recently found dead under a conveyor belt. Her death follows that of a 39-year-old male who was crushed by a dolly in 2014 and a 19-year-old male who was crushed by a lift in 2015.

Some who have dealt with the company and the incidents in the past believe that faulty or sub-par equipment is to blame. Still others think training in the proper use of the equipment is not provided. Many are urging FedEx Corp. and the manufacturers of the equipment used by the company to check safety specifications and make upgrades. The company is currently under investigation by several local and state authorities.

Maryland employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance helps to provide financial assistance should an employee be injured or killed while working on the job. The benefits regarding workplace accidents apply whether the injury was the fault of the employee, the employer or another party. Also available through the program are survivors benefits, which are available to the victim’s immediate family should the injury be fatal.

An explosion in another state took a painter’s life. The 46-year-old male was painting an unfinished home when the explosion occurred. He was working in the home shortly after a plumbing and heating company had completed some work. Fire and rescue arrived on the scene around 10:30 a.m., but the home had already collapsed and fire had consumed the structure.

What was originally thought to be a propane tank that exploded on the premises is now being called a propane leak that ignited from within the home. The State Fire Marshal believes the incident to be accidental, but is continuing to investigate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also begun to investigate the incident.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration exists in order to ensure that workers are provided with a safe work environment. However, when serious workplace accidents occur, it is strongly recommended that employers have a plan in place to handle these often tragic events. While it would be ideal if every accident could be prevented, there are many Maryland residents who have suffered either an injury or illness caused by one’s job.

OSHA has issued a guideline for employers to follow when a serious or fatal accident occurs on the job. The first is make sure that the injured employee is protected from further harm and that all other workers are safe. It is imperative to ensure that the proper emergency responders are alerted immediately and that all other employees are evacuated through the planned procedures.

Other steps to take would be to ensure that there is a plan for conducting a thorough investigation while cooperating with other officials. Any witnesses should be interviewed as soon after the incident as possible, and the emotional needs of workers who are directly affected should be provided for through counseling if needed. Lastly, it is suggested that employers are direct when releasing statements regarding the tragedy while ensuring that the final investigation is not compromised.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration dictates strict regulations to which business owners must comply in order to provide for a safe working environment. Even with the strictest of regulations and the most diligent of employers and workers, workplace accidents can still happen. When an employee is injured while working on the job, the Maryland workers’ compensation program is available to help. 

Around 4:30 a.m., construction workers in another state noticed that a street-sweeping vehicle remained idling without a driver for some time. Upon closer inspection, the men found a worker partially stuck by the hydraulic arm of the hopper. They called 911 and remained with the man, who they reported as being unresponsive.

Authorities arrived on the scene and pronounced the 47-year-old male worker deceased. After some investigation, they believe he became trapped while attempting to fix a mechanical error on the street sweeper he was operating. OSHA arrived on the scene shortly after first responders and is continuing its investigation.

When one steps outside the hustle and bustle of the Maryland capital and its surrounding cities, the rolling farmlands that provide food to many tables throughout the state spread out before the eyes. The farmlands that produce the bountiful harvests also employee many farmhands year-round. These workers put in backbreaking, sweat-induced hours to take the food from farm to table. Sometimes, the weather conditions, as well as the inconsistency of animal behavior and malfunctioning equipment, can turn these serene settings in places prone to workplace accidents.

A 37-year-old man in another state recently lost his life in February of last year when he accidentally drove into a manure pond on the dairy farm where he worked. A recent warm evening had melted snow and ice in the field and left most of the farm flooded. Around 5:30 a.m. he was driving his truck, loaded with feed for the cows, but he was unable to tell where the end of the feed field was and the manure pond began, resulting in the accident. He tried to swim to land, but he became disorientated and suffocated 70 yards from the truck.

After the man’s death, officials with the United Farm Workers of America began to receive numerous calls from other dairy workers in the same area. The employees reported unsanitary and inhumane working conditions, along with many workplace safety violations. The biggest noted was that employees did not understand how to go about obtaining workers compensation benefits. This particular insurance is required by law for all employers to carry to cover their employees should an on-the-job injury or fatality occur.

Many industrial fields that employ workers are considered high risk or extremely dangerous. Still, many find these types of employment interesting and the pay to be quite lucrative. Construction jobs seem to be at the highest risk for workplace accidents, as working with one’s hands and the use of heavy equipment seem to put these workers in danger almost daily. Maryland laws are in place to help keep these employees as safe as possible while on the job site, that is, when their employers follow the law.

A Fire-Rescue Department in another state was called to the scene of a workplace accident at approximately 10:52 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. The incident involved a 52-year-old drilling worker. He was found unresponsive when medics and police arrived on scene.

According to reports, the victim was struck in the chest by a 2-inch hose that had broken loose after a valve ruptured. The force of the blow knocked him off the platform from which he was working. OSHA is currently investigating the subcontracting company and the main company.

On-the-job and worksite safety has made vast improvements over the last 10 years, especially in Maryland. Company owners and investors have spent millions of dollars on trainings for both employees and supervisors to help keep the workplace accident and injury free. But even with the most rigorous training and stringent guidelines and procedures, workplace accidents can and will happen. A company in another state has recently been fined for safety violations after an employee was fatally injured at the end of 2016.

A 49-year-old man became entangled in a lathe at a metal workshop. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. while the worker was alone. A co-worker returned to check on the man and found the victim’s body on top of the lathe and phoned for help.

Even though the employee was alone, security cameras caught the incident on video. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the safety mechanisms, which close the doors while the machine is spinning, had been disabled and caused the accident. The company has since been fined $12,675 by OSHA for serious workplace safety violations.

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