Posted on August 30th, 2010
Two employees of a pyrotechnics company used at the PNC Field in Moosic, Pennsylvania to produce fireworks displays were injured this past Friday evening. The workers were putting on a fireworks show after the Scraton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees minor league baseball game when the accident occurred.
Officials have not released the workers’ names, conditions, or injuries, however, a family member of one of the workers told reporters that they were in stable condition. Investigators are looking into what caused the accident that left the two workers injured.
If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on August 24th, 2010
A New York woman’s arm was severed in a terrible workplace accident last Friday afternoon at Brand Packaging Group Inc.. 37-year-old Beatriz Blas of Wyandanch was using a packing machine when her arm got stuck in the machine. Blas screamed and a coworker quickly came and freed her from the machine and picked up her severed arm.
Emergency officials airlifted Blas to Nassau University Medical Center to be treated. Blas was later transferred to Stony Brook University Medical Center where doctors are trying to reattach her arm. Authorities say she is in stable condition.
Witnesses to the accident and company officials were unsure as to how Blas’ arm became stuck in the machine. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating the accident.
Posted on August 18th, 2010
One construction worker was killed and others were injured in a workplace accident while working for the Sewickley Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The accident occurred in the afternoon on July 28th when 31-year old Jack Hogan of Baden was working in a 30 foot deep hole. Baden tried to climb out but fell backwards back down into the hole. Hogan began to feel faint and radioed for help. The plant supervisor, an inspector for the borough’s engineering firm, and a construction worker responded to his call for help. All three say they were overcome by the fumes coming from the hole Hogan was trapped in.
Shawn Haynes, one of the rescuers, stated, “As soon as I got down in there I tapped one of the other guys that came down on the back, said I wasn’t feeling so well and that’s all I remember. They said I dropped like a ton of bricks”. Another rescuer was overcome by the gas and fell twenty feet. The two other men then also became sick from the gas and fell down the hole on top of him.
All four men were rushed to Allegheny General Hospital for injuries. Haynes was released later that night and Hogan later passed away at the hospital.
Investigators detected a small amount of methane gas when they arrived at the scene of the accident. They are now trying to determine if the methane was what killed Hogan and injured the other men.
Posted on July 27th, 2010
Yesterday, Nike Inc. announced their plans to pay $1.54 million in workers’ compensation to over 1,500 Honduran workers who were suddenly laid off last year when the Choloma and San Pedro Sula factories were shut down without notice. Under Honduras law, the workers were owed $2.6 million in severance after the factories closed.
Nike has consistently refused to offer severance payments, but gave in to pressure from anti-sweatshop student and university groups to pay the workers’ compensation relief. The money will be distributed between the laid off workers based on length of service and workers’ earnings. They have also offered to cover the costs of enrolling the workers in Honduras’ national health care program for one year, provide job training, and give priority to the laid off workers at positions at nearby factories.
While some are praising Nike for its willingness to provide workers’ compensation, many still believe the workers are owed millions in severance payments.
If you or someone you love is seeking workers’ compensation, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 21st, 2010
Yesterday, President Obama signed an order to have federal agencies improve workplace safety standards by 2014.
The four year plan asks federal agencies to improve workplace safety in order to reduce the number of claims made a year by federal employees, as well as the number of federal dollars spent a year on workers’ compensation. In 2009, 79,000 new claims were filed by federal employees and over $1.6 billion was spent by the federal government on workers’ compensation.
“Many of these work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and executive departments and agencies can and should do even more to improve workplace safety and health, reduce the financial burden of injury on taxpayers, and relieve unnecessary suffering by workers and their families,” stated Obama.
If you or someone you love has been injured or become ill on the job, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 14th, 2010
Previously, the Veterans Administration required veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to provide documentation that they served on the front lines or were involved in a stressful event. Also, while all veterans could be treated for PTSD, requirements limited those who could receive disability benefits.
However, last week, the VA altered its disability benefits regulations so that now veterans only need to provide documentation of serving in a war zone and an honorable discharge.
Officials say that war zones have changed, with unidentifiable “hot zones” endangering many, as opposed to a having a clear front line. “That’s what is different about these wars. You could be a cook or a driver and be exposed to a violent situation,” stated veteran Josh Callahan of the Boise VA Medical Center.
If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD or another disability, contact the Philadelphia short-term disability attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on July 9th, 2010
A federal court recently sentenced roofing contractor Christopher Franc to three years probation and six months house arrest after willfully committing safety violations and endangering his workers. He was also fined $539,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Last year, one of Franc’s roofers, 29-year old Carl Beck, died when he fell from a steep roof while not using any safety gear. Investigators found that Franc did not provide fall-protection equipment to employees and failed to appropriately train new employees.
Head of OSHA Dr. David Michaels believes that existing laws are not tough enough on willfully negligent employers who cause injuries in their employees, like Franc. Now, Michaels is promoting the Protecting America’s Workers Act, or PAWA, that would sentence negligent employers to up to twenty years in prison. PAWA would also increase fines against willful violators and strengthen whistleblower protections.
Posted on July 9th, 2010
Last month, two workers at the Ultra Resources natural gas well in Gaines Township, Pennsylvania were involved in a workplace accident after equipment malfunctioned.
The workers were airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital for head injury and broken ribs. One of the workers was hit in the head by a piece of metal, leaving skull lacerations and knocking him out. The other worker suffered broken ribs.
A pipe coupling that separated was suspected as the cause of the accident that injured the two workers. The Department of Environmental Protection’s North Central region director stated, “The cause of the blow-out was probably excessive pressure in the hammer union, but really the question will be was whether the union was installed properly or if the failure was due to a manufacturing defect”.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a workplace accident, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your rights.
Posted on June 11th, 2010
This week, Massachusetts firefighters are being taught what to do in the event that a construction worker is buried alive in an on-site accident. Every year, trenches that lead to utility lines collapse and kill workers. Two months ago, a Pennsylvania worker was killed when a trench collapsed on him. Two weeks ago, a Chicago worker was saved by rescuers who were able to get to him before the pressure of the trench killed him.
Federal stimulus money has resulted in even more construction work being done this year, and authorities wish to remind citizens to call for help if they see someone who has been in a construction accident. They also note that it is important not to try to assist someone who has been in a construction accident by yourself, but to call 911 and wait for professional assistance.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job at a construction site, contact the Philadelphia construction injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. by calling 215-238-1130.
Posted on May 26th, 2010
When injured workers file claims for workers’ compensation benefits, the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company may investigate the claim. This investigation may include an examination of the medical report and other details related to the injury.
The insurance company may also hire investigators to ensure that the worker is in fact injured and complying with their doctors orders. If the insurance company finds evidence to reject the workers’ compensation claim, then the injured employee may need to take legal action to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
If you or anyone you know has questions about workers’ compensation coverage, contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130.
